Penis of 9-foot gargoyle puts artist in legal battle with county in Arizona

[Agent11]

Yavapai County officials have objected to the statue and neighbor’s have complained about the gargoyle’s large penis. David Smith now faces a $100 fine plus a $1,000 sanction if the statue’s large genitalia isn’t taken out of the public eye.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/...-statue-causes-trouble-in-small-arizona-town/


Personally I think it's nonsense. Same puritan logic that got the exposed breasts of statues in D.C. covered.

 

[BoomerD]

Come on people...it's not THAT big...

NSFW: http://ksaz.images.worldnow.com/images/22516147_BG1.jpg

 

[Patranus]

Just some idiot looking for attention and people giving it to him.

 

[UberNeuman]

It's a Christian gargoyle, so expect a certain member to come in here with hard support for free speech - I just hope he doesn't lose his head and blow his wad prematurely...

 

[zephyrprime]

It's pretty small actually. They're just upset that it's visible at all.

 

[Incorruptible]

He has the right to keep the gargoyle on his property so it shouldn't be moved.

 

[werepossum]

I think they should just be happy one can recognize it as a gargoyle. Far too often today "sculpture" is just a code word for "some worthless junk I welded together randomly."

Although I suppose if it were the latter, government would have bought it already.

 

[HeXen]

So if Michelangelo's David had a larger penis people would be upset?

 

[WelshBloke]

It's a pretty shitty gargoyle. But hey... IT'S GOT A COCK! WHOA!

STRAIGHT TO THE FRONT PAGE.

It's not like theres anything else going on in the world.

 

[lagokc]

It's pretty small actually. They're just upset that it's visible at all.

Pretty small compared to Roman statues of Priapus, but pretty huge by religious nut standards

 

[WHAMPOM]

Reminds me of the commerative bronze in a town square where the city objected to the artist having the town's hero riding a (historically accurate) mare. So they had the female part ground off and balls and a cock welded on.

News for you folks, it was geldings and mares on the battle fields, the Army did not put up with stallions making trouble.

 

[lagokc]

So if Michelangelo's David had a larger penis people would be upset?

Funny you should ask about Michelangelo. In The Creation of Adam he originally painted God's penis but the Pope made him change it.

 

[WelshBloke]

Pretty small compared to Roman statues of Priapus, but pretty huge by religious nut standards

He'll have someone's eye out with that!

 

[WHAMPOM]

So if Michelangelo's David had a larger penis people would be upset?

They were! It had a fig leaf attached I don't know how many times and his Church frescos which pleased his patrons,"thumbs up there Mike!" got painted over by order of later Cardinals and Popes.

 

[Jaskalas]

Would you not mind this next to your house?

Why do we have public nudity laws if nudity may be depicted?

 

[lagokc]

Would you not mind this next to your house?

Why do we have public nudity laws if nudity may be depicted?

It's Arizona. Look at the picture, it's by his shed and the next house is probably a 45 minute drive.

 

[WelshBloke]

Would you not mind this next to your house?

*shrug* It would give me somewhere to hang my umbrella.

Why do we have public nudity laws if nudity may be depicted?

It's an inanimate object. Notwithstanding the lack of artistic ability does it really offend your sense of propriety that much?

 

[Nintendesert]

This piece of work is definitely up there with Michelangelo's David. People should be ashamed for opposing this.

 

[CitizenKain]

I really read this as 9 foot penis on the gargoyle, which would be a lot more entertaining.

 

[classy]

The guy who put this up is a loser diva who wants attention.

 

[FaaR]

Would you not mind this next to your house?

Where in the US constitution/bill of rights does it say you have a say over what's in your neighbor's garden...?

I read this thread asking myself if you people live in america, or possibly whingeistan... Grow a fricken spine, alright? If you don't like the guy's statue you don't have to have one IN YOUR GARDEN.

That's freedom in a nutshell.

/gets off soapbox.

Why do we have public nudity laws if nudity may be depicted?

Nudity refers to PEOPLE. You want to dress up furniture too...? Their legs are bare, NUDITY! NUDITYYYY!!

By the way, they actually did that in victorian england, you know. Goes to show how silly puritanism is.

 

[BoomerD]

Where in the US constitution/bill of rights does it say you have a say over what's in your neighbor's garden...?

I read this thread asking myself if you people live in america, or possibly whingeistan... Grow a fricken spine, alright? If you don't like the guy's statue you don't have to have one IN YOUR GARDEN.

That's freedom in a nutshell.

/gets off soapbox.


Nudity refers to PEOPLE. You want to dress up furniture too...? Their legs are bare, NUDITY! NUDITYYYY!!

By the way, they actually did that in victorian england, you know. Goes to show how silly puritanism is.

 

[Bitek]

I'm offended the gargoyle is so lame..

 

[rudder]

I'm offended the gargoyle is so lame..

if it weren't for the penis I would think that the sculpture is some middle school art project.

 

[Jaskalas]

Where in the US constitution/bill of rights does it say you have a say over what's in your neighbor's garden...?

If you live in a town or city, then you're already under the jurisdiction of such laws. Can you park your cars on the grass? Can you refuse to mow said grass? Can you place a pool in the front yard? Can you place obscene statues?

I would think the answer is already no. I'd be surprised if it wasn't.