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History of ArtSeptember 13, 2005Art can sure stir up controversy is one of the topics we talked about in today's art history class. I was reminded of a controversial outddoor sculpture display I had seen a few months in Middletown, Ct. My best friend Jim had told me that naked sculptures were on display in a lot next to the Senior Center in Middletown. "All the folks in town are really stirred up about it," he said. "All the statues are of naked men. Looks to me they're promoting homosexuality. Gay marriage, maybe." Gay marriage had made the headlines of local newspapers several times in the last year, especially since Massachusetts legalized same-gender marriage. My wife and I were about an hour's drive to Middletown, and I was curious to see the statues that were stirring up such controversy. I visited the site, took several photos of the sculptures, which I am including in thumbnail size below. Just click each of these small photos to be taken to big-sized copies. If you only have dial up connection, expect a couple minutes for the enlargements to load. The nude bronze figures, to me, were beautiful, moving works of art, symbolizing human relationships in general. I felt that the sculptor, who I later found out to be Nicholas Baker Swearer, didn't have the intention of promoting homosexuality at all. Why would one set of the sculptures -- there were three sets of two sculptures -- appear to be choking one another if Swearen had intended to promote homosexuality? And also, none of the naked sculptures, even those embracing, show any sign of sexual arousal? Read the article in the June 11, 2005 edition of the Middletown (CT) Press, and you will see that I am not the only one who thought the sculptures were works of art not intended to promote a gay lifestyle. These sculptures, along with several other works of art at other locations on Middletown's Main Street, are scheduled to be displayed this public format for two years -- so you have plenty of time to visit Middletown and make your own judgments. Definitely worth the trip, I think. Map of Middletown and vicinity. You can view the sculptures on Nicholas Baker Swearer's website. Don't miss the artist's statement explaining his work and links to all the content in his website. |
© 2005 by Richard Gordon. All
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