Ass painting, yes, everybody is doing it these days...
Posted on 12/13/2006 5:29:58 AM PST by ShadowDancer
Art Teacher Suspended For Painting With Butt
Man Wore Disguise, Kept Outside Art Separate
POSTED: 7:39 am EST December 13, 2006
RICHMOND, Va. -- Stephen Murmer's secret career as an artist has caught up with him. Video: Teacher Does Butt Art Web Site: ButtPrintArt
Murmer, a popular high school art teacher, was suspended after objections were raised about his private abstract artwork, much of which includes smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas.
Murmer contacted the American Civil Liberties Union on Friday, saying school administrators had suspended him with pay for five days because of his work as a painter and that he could face further punishment, ACLU legal director Rebecca Glenberg said.
Murmer has been instructed by Monacan High School administrators not to speak with the media, Glenberg said. He did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.
Schools spokeswoman Debra Marlow confirmed that a Monacan art teacher had been placed on administrative leave but declined to provide additional details because it is a personnel issue.
"In the school system, personnel regulations state that teachers are expected to set an example for students through their personal conduct," Marlow said. "Additionally, the Supreme Court has stated that schools must teach by example and that teachers, like parents, are role models."
Murmer went to great lengths to keep his work life separate from his activities as an artist, said ACLU executive director Kent Willis. As an artist, he goes by the name "Stan Murmur," and appears in disguise in photographs and videos promoting his art.
"As a public employee, he has constitutional rights, and he certainly has the right to engage in private legal activities protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution," Willis said.
Murmer expressed concern about remaining incognito during a 2003 appearance on a now-canceled cable television talk show. In a clip from the show, available on YouTube.com, Murmer dons a fake nose and glasses, a towel on his head, a black thong - and nothing else.
In response to questions about his disguise, Murmer said: "I do have a real job where I do have real clients and I don't think they'd be too understanding if I was also the guy who painted with my ass."
That video has made the rounds at Monacan High, where the mere mention of Murmer's name was enough to elicit grins from students Tuesday. Most supported their teacher, describing his suspension as "stupid" and "ignorant."
This is not the first time Murmer has faced potential problems because of his extracurricular activities. Three years ago, he contacted the ACLU after he was told school administrators were unhappy about his paintings, Willis said. The issue eventually blew over with no suspension issued, Willis said. It was unclear why administrators decided to take action now.
Owning a piece of Murmer's art doesn't come cheap. On his Web site, his creations run upward of $900. His most popular piece, "Tulip Butts," goes for $600.
This guy is representative of the current professional, college educated artist. A BA/MA teaches purity of thought and technique. Even tho there is no market and no possibility of sucess selling the work, the purity of the vision must be upheld.
The result is the guy must teach to survive. He teaches and pollutes his students with his single minded flawed vision.
HER talents? It's a HE.....see pic of his most famous work above. ;)
Exactly.
Butt prints in the Sand
One night, I had a wondrous dream;
One set of footprints there was seen.
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
"Those prints are large and round and neat,
But, Lord, they are too big for feet."
"My child," He said in somber tones.
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of-faith you would not know.
So I got tired and fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt,
Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."
No s#$t, Sherlock?
His problems are all behind him now.
Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!
There was a young man from Australia
Who painted his bum like a dahlia.
The drawing was fine,
The color divine
But the scent – ah! that was a failure.
Very funny
This doesn't mean they will accept him as a client and file a suit on his behalf.
Both the ACLU and their potential clients like to toss the organization's name around as a scare and intimidation tactic.
Usually works, too.
But even the ACLU doesn't butt into every single case of nutty teachers (most of whom are probably failed law professors).
Leni
LOL!! That struck me funny. Last night my husband made a comment that it's easy for 2 people to become rich, one needs no talent and the other a wild idea........he looked at me and said "We know I've got no talent, so you come up with the idea!!!!"
From Butt-Art to Butt-Poetry.
Shimmer, that's a beautiful poem.
Whatta goober! I'm sure he thought he was so clever that he was getting one over on the school system.
You are looking for a gimmick, that takes talent too.
This Butt's fer you!
I'll bet the ACLU will jump all over this as "Artistic Expression"
True.
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