Gallery told to shut down chocolate Jesus

[Tanstaafl]

I wonder what anyone here makes of this:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0330ChocolateJesus30-ON.html

A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday amid a choir of complaining Catholics that included Cardinal Edward Egan.

The "My Sweet Lord" display was shut down by the hotel that houses the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan, said Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director. Semler said he submitted his resignation after officials at the Roger Smith Hotel shut down the show.

The six-foot sculpture was the victim of "a strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing," Semler said. "They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions."

But word of the confectionary Christ infuriated Catholics, including Egan, who described it as "a sickening display." Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, said it was "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever."

The hotel and the gallery were overrun Thursday with angry phone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Semler said the calls included death threats over the work of artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who was described as disappointed by the decision to cancel the display.

I wonder how much different this really is to the muslim response to the Muhammed cartoons. I would take the death threats here far less seriously, but still... it is eerily similar to me.

[Kopji]

Aaargh, now I'm going to think of this story every time I hear that stupid George Harrison song.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Chocolate Jesus!
Chocolate Jesus!
Overstimulates endocrine glands
He's so creamy, smooth and brown
I lick him up and I lick him down
Yes, he melts in my mouth, not in my hands

[thaiboxerken]

I think those people are just weird. I wonder if they thought for a second of the artist was christian or not. I doubt they care. So jesus is chocolate? So what? So he's naked? Don't they also realize that a depiction of a guy being crucified is rather disturbing in the first place?

[Kopji]

Some penis-free chocolate Jesus's here:

http://chocolatefantasies.com/religious.htm

[andyandy]

chocolate jesus.....

mmm sacrelicious :D

[Tanstaafl]

I'm guessing there was very little actual thinking that went into their reaction at all.


I think it mostly a gut-level emotional response. Probably gave some of them flashbacks to the jesus-in-a-jar-of-urine that was around a few years ago.

[thaiboxerken]

Those same people probably would get upset if a magician turned water into wine during a show.

[NotJesus]

Don't go to church on Sunday
Don't get on my knees to pray
Don't memorize the books of the Bible
I got my own special way
But I know Jesus loves me
Maybe just a little bit more
I fall on my knees every Sunday
At Zerelda Lee's candy store

Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
To make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
To keep me satisfied

Well I don't want no Anna Zabba
Don't want no Almond Joy
There ain't nothing better
Suitable for this boy
Well it's the only thing
That can pick me up
Better than a cup of gold
See only a chocolate Jesus
Can satisfy my soul

When the weather gets rough
And it's whiskey in the shade
It's best to wrap your savior
Up in cellophane
He flows like the big muddy
But that's ok
Pour him over ice cream
For a nice parfait

Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me

Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
To make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
To keep me satisfied


--Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan

[Björn Toulouse]

I can do anything I pleases
long as I got my chocolate Jesus
riding on the dashboard of my car.

But in the summer it ain't funny
when it gets all bright and sunny
and he melts and drips like gooey tar...

[Foster Zygote]

Don't go to church on Sunday
Don't get on my knees to pray
Don't memorize the books of the Bible
I got my own special way
But I know Jesus loves me
Maybe just a little bit more
I fall on my knees every Sunday
At Zerelda Lee's candy store...

Damn! You beat me to it. That's one of my favorite Tom Waits songs.

[RandomElement]

My only question about "Cocoa Christ" is: how does anyone know that the statue depicts Christ? Because the artist said so? I would wager any amount that there is zero resemblance other than basic male anatomy.

Why not design a chocolate T-Rex and call it "The Chocolate Christ"? Would that be offensive?

[Foster Zygote]

My only question about "Cocoa Christ" is: how does anyone know that the statue depicts Christ? Because the artist said so? I would wager any amount that there is zero resemblance other than basic male anatomy.

Why not design a chocolate T-Rex and call it "The Chocolate Christ"? Would that be offensive?

Not if it had coconut filling.

[grayman]

Were there chocolate malted-milk balls on the Jesus?

[strathmeyer]

Is the cross made of pretzel?

[Kopji]

Wohoo! Whoa.
Bill Donohue just verbally duked it out in a rockem sockem interview on CNN with artist Cosimo Cavallaro. Donohue resorted to a Godwin-like comparison calling swastikas art, if this was. Cosimo punched back by saying Donohue was much more like a Nazi than he was.

Cavallaro has received threats and is in hiding. The hotel closed the show and has been harmed financially. Donohue seemed very proud of that.

The funny thing is, CNN showed a full frontal view of the chocolate statue during almost the whole interview.

Donohue proudly and loudly portrayed the Catholic church as a powerful and dangerous political force that could force a private business into bankruptcy it wanted. Smash an art show. Do what it wants.

The artist spoke like, well an artist. Somewhat genuinely bemused at all the fuss. An artist in hiding and in fear for his friends.

Does the Catholic church really think that this 'Goliath vs David' tactic is very smart? That aligning the massive resources of an religio-political machine against an artist is a good idea?

The Catholic church was shown to be a dangerous force today all right. I hope they enjoy what comes along with this.

[Kopji]

The bloggers already have it. This oughta be good.

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/

[Kopji]

CNN replayed it.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/1061460e04bae14f2.jpg

[Tanstaafl]

Wow!


I had no idea the reaction was quite that... strident. Yikes.

[grayman]

Imagine the reaction to a chocolate Mohamed.

[darnell11]

I wonder if the artist is gonna eat it now...I would.

[Kopji]

Donohue actually ranted a bit about if the Jesus would be eaten.

I don't remember exactly what Cosimo's words were, but he seemed a little surprised at the thought. we do not eat the art

[Kopji]

The transcript is online now. Worth a view if it's repeated though.
Some snips.


http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/30/acd.01.html

COOPER: Cosimo, do you understand the outrage this has caused? I mean, do you think it's overreaction? Do you get it?

C. CAVALLARO: Yes, I get it. I think it's an overreaction.

You just heard the gentleman calling artists losers, or me a loser. I think what he's -- his assault is on the public at large, artists, and freedom of speech, and every Catholic. I'm a Catholic, and I'm a Christian.

And I think this gentleman doesn't even represent the people that are in his faith.

DONAHUE: That's funny. You said I put out a fatwa, right? Or the -- or the -- that was the -- the guy who ran the lab, says I put out a fatwa. I put out a news release.

So, you're accusing me of being like the Taliban; is that right?

C. CAVALLARO: Who, me? You're not that intelligent.

(LAUGHTER)

DONAHUE: Oh, no, let me tell you something. You're -- you're lucky I'm not as mean, because you might lose more than your head.

COOPER: Cosimo, did you want people to eat this? Was that part of this?

C. CAVALLARO: No.

Did you hear what this gentleman is saying, that I would lose my head?

DONAHUE: No, I -- you heard what I said. I said you're -- you're lucky I'm not like the Taliban, because you would lose more than your head, which is why...

C. CAVALLARO: Right. So, therefore...

(CROSSTALK)



...COOPER: But, Bill, doesn't -- doesn't -- I mean, don't people have a right to express themselves? And isn't that what art is about? Aren't artists supposed to provoke thought?

DONAHUE: That's right. And, if we -- and if we put a swastika out on a stamp in the United States, we could call that art. It was an art exhibition. I don't think Jews would go for that.

Just because art is art doesn't mean that it is a right that is absolute. Art can be insulting and it can be offensive. And when these people are whining, claiming victim status, as this guy is doing, because of my exercise of my First Amendment right of freedom of speech -- I didn't call the cops to come in and censor this.

I'm simply saying I called up about 500 of my friends and -- running different Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and non- sectarian organizations to boycott the Roger Smith Hotel. They're morally bankrupt. I want to see them financially bankrupt.




DONAHUE: Look, you lost. You know what? You put your middle finger at the Catholic Church, and we just broke it, didn't we, pal?

C. CAVALLARO: No. You're wrong. You're wrong.

DONAHUE: Yes, we did. You lost.

C. CAVALLARO: I have a lot of believers.

DONAHUE: We -- we won. You're out of a job.

C. CAVALLARO: And I'm a Christian. And there's a lot of people like me, who are opposed to what you're doing, because you made a big...

DONAHUE: Yes? But I got a job, and you don't.

C. CAVALLARO: You made a -- "I got a job, and you don't"?

DONAHUE: Yes.

C. CAVALLARO: You're acting like a 5-year-old.

DONAHUE: I got a job, and you don't.

C. CAVALLARO: You're talking -- you're acting like a 5-year-old. And I feel sorry for you.

COOPER: All right. We're going to -- we're...

DONAHUE: Well, I won on this, and you lost, didn't you?

COOPER: Well, let's -- let's leave it there.

You both expressed your opinions.

[thaiboxerken]

Hmm.. transcript shows that neither person is very articulate. I will admit that Donahue did sound extremely childish and dismissed the fact that Cooper is a Christian.

[Kopji]

The end was sort of argument by 'neener neener'.

[thaiboxerken]

The end was sort of argument by 'neener neener'.

I know you are, but what am I?

[Glen.Nogami]

What a truly sad debate. I mean, learn to think on your feet, folks! As for Choco-christ, I think it's absurd that the church went after it like it did. I guess it's offensive to some, but not as offensive as that guy's argumentum ad hitler would have been.

I have to say, the first thought that passed through my mind on seeing this thread title was a horrifyingly politically incorrect "Jesus was black" exhibition taken down by the KKK or something.

Well, hell, the mayor of New Orleans used "Chocolate," so I guess it's alright. Never mind about politically incorrect.

[ceo_esq]

As for Choco-christ, I think it's absurd that the church went after it like it did.

Did the Church go after it too? I don't remember reading anything about that.

[Lonewulf]

Those same people probably would get upset if a magician turned water into wine during a show.

Hell, if the wine wasn't used, then I would be upset too.

What a waste of wine.

For that matter, the people upset are wasting a lot of whine.

[Kopji]

Donahue is spokesman for an organization called the 'Catholic League'.
http://www.catholicleague.org/faqs.htm

Not affiliated with the Catholic Church, just filled with its members and clergy.

Once upon a time, there was a large and beautiful fruit tree with delicious fruit. A mysterious visitor came, and surrounded the tree by an invisible net that caught all the good fruit that fell and diverted it to a machine that coated it with something nasty tasting.

The fruit was then returned beneath the tree as if it has fallen from there. When the local townspeople came by to gather the fruit, they wrongly judged the tree harshly for producing bad fruit and chopped it down.

It was a lie because the bad fruit was really the fault of whoever ran the invisible net. When the townspeople died, they all burned in hell for their mistake.

The end

[UnrepentantSinner]

Bill Donahue is one of those honest to goodness crazy reactionaries that I am mindful of whenever I poopoo the derision of religious people around here.

My only question about "Cocoa Christ" is: how does anyone know that the statue depicts Christ? Because the artist said so? I would wager any amount that there is zero resemblance other than basic male anatomy.

Why not design a chocolate T-Rex and call it "The Chocolate Christ"? Would that be offensive?

The answer is that some people are Kookoo for Coco Christ.

[Pardalis]

On a serious note, does anybody know how the artist accomplished this piece?

It doesn't really look much like a sculpture to me, but more like the artist used the mold of someone and filled it with chocolate.

I think the idea is interesting, given that we're close to Easter, but I don't think this art piece has much artistry in its making.

[UnrepentantSinner]

On a serious note, does anybody know how the artist accomplished this piece?

It doesn't really look much like a sculpture to me, but more like the artist used the mold of someone and filled it with chocolate.

One of my former co-workers had a wonderfully detailed bronze bust of an Indian Chief that he had made himself. Any half-competant metal worker could form a mold that would produce a statue and I imagine molten chocolate is much easier to work with than molten bronze.

[mummymonkey]

They should put it in a church for the faithful to bite lumps out of whilst mumbling something about the body of Christ.

[Pardalis]

One of my former co-workers had a wonderfully detailed bronze bust of an Indian Chief that he had made himself. Any half-competant metal worker could form a mold that would produce a statue and I imagine molten chocolate is much easier to work with than molten bronze.

That's not what I meant. I meant the making of the body doesn't seem sculpted by hand, it seems it was molded on someone, you know like when they make latex molds of people for movies.

[bignickel]

(Depeche Mode)
You're my

Chocolate

Jesus

Someone who tastes the best

Someone who's blessed
(/Depeche Mode)

[pgwenthold]

So reading through the thread, and the transcript of the exchange, I'm still trying to figure it out.

What is offensive about this?

Jesus has been portrayed in pretty much every artistic medium ever envisioned, chocolate just being another. So it's ok to have a wood or plaster Jesus but not chocolate?

Or is it just because he is naked?

As far as I can see, it is representation of Jesus on the cross. What's offensive about it?

[This Guy]

That Jesus guy was kinda skinny.

I want a chocolate Buddha!

More Chocolate!

Yummy :)

(hmmm Maybe this is why no one has tried making little choco Christ to put in Easter baskets?)

[Darth Rotor]

So reading through the thread, and the transcript of the exchange, I'm still trying to figure it out.

What is offensive about this?

Jesus has been portrayed in pretty much every artistic medium ever envisioned, chocolate just being another. So it's ok to have a wood or plaster Jesus but not chocolate?

Or is it just because he is naked?

As far as I can see, it is representation of Jesus on the cross. What's offensive about it?
Ah, do we dare cross post the discussion from P & CE (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=78267)on this same news story? :D

Cavallaro has received threats and is in hiding.
Threats of bodily harm? *sigh* I guess the age of vitriol continues.

WWJD? I don't think he'd threaten the artist's life.

DR

[ponderingturtle]

What do people think is the source of the contraversy?

That it is an edible jesus and not made out of bread(or vaguely bread like substance)?

That it is anitomicaly correct?

That it was not made out of white chocolate?

[Tanstaafl]

What do people think is the source of the contraversy?

That it is an edible jesus and not made out of bread(or vaguely bread like substance)?

That it is anitomicaly correct?

That it was not made out of white chocolate?


So far I haven't heard any coherent statement at all regarding what exactly is offensive about this. I don't really think those who are complaining loudly even know themselves. I suspect it's like the old porn definition, they can't describe sacrilege, but they know it when they see it.

In other words, what offends them personally is automatically objectively offensive, as far as they're concerned.

[zombiebex]

Personally, I love this peice and what it says about modern mainstream religion. After all, ask any average American what they like best about Easter and you're most likely going to hear "candy!"

If the nutbar Christians actually sat down and thought about it past the knee jerk reaction of "OMG PENIS!" they might agree with what its message is. Sweet Lord is doing exactly what modern art is supposed to do: take the familiar and turn it on it's ear. It's taking what most of us associate with the holiday (mmmchocolate) and turns it back into what the holiday is supposed to be.

Had the artist put a loincloth on Christ, we'd never be hearing about this. But since this Puritanical society can only equate the nude human form with sexuality, and sexuality with immorality, well...

[Wheezebucket]

Jesus had a penis?! Absurd.

[pgwenthold]

So far I haven't heard any coherent statement at all regarding what exactly is offensive about this.


Darth Rotor suggested that it has to do with it going against the Catholic convention of a loin cloth, but if that's it, then would they also find Michelangelo's painting offensive because it goes against the tradition of the fig leaf?

I'm with y'all. I'm still waiting to hear an explanation of why it is offensive. I'm not saying that it isn't offensive to these people, but I'd really like to hear why it is.

[sackett]

chocolate jesus.....

mmm sacrelicious :D

Ban this man.

[Marquis de Carabas]

What do people think is the source of the contraversy?

That it is an edible jesus and not made out of bread(or vaguely bread like substance)?

That it is anitomicaly correct?

That it was not made out of white chocolate?Maybe that the artist made Jesus' pecker too small?

[thaiboxerken]

Maybe that the artist made Jesus' pecker too small?

It was a chocolate jesus, so it had to be huge.

[Tanstaafl]

It was a chocolate jesus, so it had to be huge.


I was a little slow getting that. You are bad, Ken, bad... :D

[Glen.Nogami]

Did the Church go after it too? I don't remember reading anything about that.

Donahue certainly appeared to be representing a church. It was, at the least, gone after by people motivated by religiosity, and most likely belonging to a church.