Posted on 12/11/2004 7:25:07 PM PST by AM2000
MONTPELIER, Vt., Dec. 11 - Gov. James Douglas plans to remove a table lamp in his ceremonial office that depicts a nude woman.
The lamp, added to his desk recently as part of a Statehouse restoration project, is a replica of a famous 19th century statue.
"The governor does not object to the art," said a spokesman, Jason Gibbs. "It may, frankly, be awkward to explain why there is a nude Greek slave on the governor's desk to a third grader."
The lamp is a replica of "The Greek Slave," an 1843 sculpture by a Vermont artist, Hiram Powers, that became an icon of the abolitionist movement before the Civil War.
The woman depicted in the statue, her hair tied back in a bun, is looking downward, a chain attached to her wrists. In the original, her clothes are beside her and a locket and cross are visible.
"It's a wonderful statue," said Vivien Fryd, an art historian at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, who has written about it.
Another reason for removing the lamp is its own safety, Mr. Gibbs said. In the legislative session, which begins Jan. 5, the governor's ceremonial office is often crowded, and the lamp could be knocked over and damaged.
"We thought that it would be risky for it to remain when so many people use that office during the legislative session and so many student groups come and often sit at or around the governor's desk," Mr. Gibbs said.
The Statehouse's curator, David Schutz, said the lamp would be removed from the office in the next legislative session, which runs from January through roughly May. "I am, of course, respecting his wishes. It is, after all, his office," Mr. Schutz said.
"There hasn't been much explanation," he added. "I am fine about that. From our standpoint in interpreting it to the public, during the session it's a working office."
At a recent meeting in the governor's office, a member of his senior staff covered the lamp with a napkin. "It was all in good fun," Mr. Gibbs said.
The ornate office is used heavily while the Legislature is in session, but governors work most of the time out of a suite of modern offices in an adjacent building.
Governor Douglas, a Republican, was re-elected in November to a second two-year term.
Oops I posted this with the wrong title.. can you please change the title to:
"Governor Wants Iconic Nude Off His Desk"
Thanks!
David Schutz is a neighbor of ours here in Vermont. I wonder if he's the guy who passed this story on to the NY Times to embarrass Douglas?
There's an awful lot of porn out there, posing as art.
More like this...
Now THAT'S funny!
Somehow, when they stick a bulb on it, its status as a piece of art is probably diminished a bit. A mouse pad with the Mona Lisa on it is not considered art either, but decoration.
I must be missing something here, For that to be classified as a lamp it would need a lightbulb and perhaps a shade, but I'm sure the electrical cord was hidden for that shot. :-)
I'm surprised Clintoon hasn't snatched it for his desk.
It's ancient Grecian art, not the Virgin Mary depicted in elephant dung. There's no need to explain anything to anyone; get over it.
But they support the Piss Christ in a museum in NY, where a Crusifix is in a bottle filled with urine. Supported by the National Academy of the Arts; paid by, you guessed it, Federal Tax dollars.
What has happened to common sense in this country? Clinton was getting BJ's, and all the do-gooders thought was acceptable behavior.
The planet is turning upside down at a geometric rate.
I just dropped it!LOL!
OMG!!!!
After seeing the first pic, I was about to say that it was a beautiful piece of artwork....
...then I saw your post.
Any point made after that is moot!
*LOL*
ROFLMAO
LOL
Yeah, the statue would fit in nicely in the Clinton Library and Massage Parlour.
I think it's innocent nude, but then again, it might frighten children.
It isn't ancient Greek art, it is from the 1800's. It was controversial when it was introduced by the artist, and so it seems it remains a bit controversial. It is a beautiful piece of artwork. One of my favorites actually. I'd like to take this one off the Governor's hands.
http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/sentimnt/grslvhp.html
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