Nude statue causes stir, but wait!

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/regio...e/tempe-statue-causing-controversy?hpt=us_bn7

TEMPE, AZ - A new Valley statue is causing quite a stir, all because of where it’s located.

The statue was created by Bill Tonnesen, a Tempe contractor who placed a statue of a large, naked woman on one his properties near Rural and Broadway roads in Tempe.

The statue is supposed to resemble a historical figurine called the Venus of Willendorf.

“I love it,” Tonnesen said. “I’m crazy about it.”

Not everyone, however, is on board with the idea. The statue sits across the street from a pre-school and church.

“I think the placement of it makes it an issue,” said Tempe resident Michael White.

White said he could imagine some parents and church-goers becoming upset.

“To have [the statue] on the side of the street in such open viewing space is a topic of concern, actually,” he said.

Tonnesen told ABC15 he recently won approval from the city to keep the statue, and said he believes everyone should view it as art, rather than an obscenity.

“Maybe I’m being naïve,” he said. “But I don’t get the nudity being [a problem].”

Tonnesen has several other sculptures that sit on properties around the Valley and plans to keep this one up, as well.

However, it currently sits draped under a blanket, as Tonnesen’s wife doesn’t approve of the statue’s location.

“She’s not happy,” he said.

That’s because she is a member of the church and Tonnesen said she wishes he would place it somewhere else.

“Until I can work something out with my wife, we’re going to leave it covered,” he said.

Since I tend to get infractions from the mods if I embed any images, I'll let you judge whether the statue is appropriate. Bit on the nauseating side . . . .but thats actually a pretty common body type for women and med these days.

Just as you got infractions for embedding NSFW pics (not for ANY images) , you'll get them for mod baiting as well.
admin allisolm
 
Last edited by a moderator:

amish

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
4,295
6
81
just put a MacDonald's bag in her hand. it isn't like there is much to see anyway.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,998
126
I'm offended by that statue. Not because it's a naked woman, but because it's a fat ugly naked woman. Change it to naked Kate Upton and I'll fight to the death for his right to display it.
 
Last edited:

SillyOReilly

Golden Member
Aug 11, 2007
1,532
6
81
Was the statue of a black guy over a cup of coffee?

"Pardon me sir, may I stir this for you?"
 

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
5,664
202
106
Slapping the label "art" on something doesn't mean it is okay to display it anywhere you choose. Any person that suggests that it does is an idiot.

Personally, I think this guy knew exactly what he was doing and is just in it for self promotion. Everyone should just ignore him.

-KeithP
 

AeroEngy

Senior member
Mar 16, 2006
356
0
0
Pretty sure the Sistine Chapel has loads of paintings of naked people all over its ceiling. Are religious people really more prudish than they were 500 years ago?
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
It's art, you should be able to display it anywhere you choose.

KT
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Pretty sure the Sistine Chapel has loads of paintings of naked people all over its ceiling. Are religious people really more prudish than they were 500 years ago?

Were the nudes on the Sistine Chapel 300lb lard asses?
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,903
11,040
136
Pretty sure the Sistine Chapel has loads of paintings of naked people all over its ceiling. Are religious people really more prudish than they were 500 years ago?

Just American ones I think.

(not meant to be a dig against most Americans, most of you are great. You just seem to breed a special kind of religious nutter over there)
 

Matthiasa

Diamond Member
May 4, 2009
5,755
23
81
At that weight men a women look basically the same until you start digging through the folds of fat...
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,743
31,110
146
Pretty sure the Sistine Chapel has loads of paintings of naked people all over its ceiling. Are religious people really more prudish than they were 500 years ago?

The Last Judgment, which is certainly the coolest part of the Sistine Chapel, was censored by, I think Leo X? Not sure, but it was 1 or 2 popes after Julius II (Julius II was M. Buonaroti's primary benefactor, and commissioned his work of the Sistine Chapel).

Anyway, shortly after it was completed, the horrified pope ordered loin cloths to be painted over the angles and demons and naked tormented fleshy humans. Much of this censoring still remains on what is, arguably, Michelangelo's greatest painting.

The ceiling, which has the 10 panels from Genesis, and is the generally more well-known of the frescoes in the Sistine chapel, doesn't have so much nudity--save for Noah's pilly packer. Further, it was never censored.

The Last Judgment is a bit more...explicit, and much easier to see.
 
Last edited: