Posted on 11/08/2001 6:05:56 AM PST by gdani
Boulder library's 'string of penises' artwork miffs some
By Lynn Bartels and Julie Poppen
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writers
BOULDER -- If it's any consolation, from a distance they look like socks hanging on a clothesline. That's the assessment from Karen Ripley, director of cultural programs for the Boulder Public Library.
She is stunned at the outcry over a piece of art that features 21 ceramic . . . ummm . . . men's appendages, which are displayed on a clothesline in the library. It's entitled "Hung out to dry."
"Men find this disturbing, but women find it amusing," Ripley said.
"I think it's rather powerful myself," said Julia Wrapp, a city planner who was attending another function at the library Wednesday night.
The artwork is part of an exhibition sponsored by Safehouse, which assists women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The exhibit, "Art Over Domestic Violence," has been on display at the library gallery since Oct. 19.
Not surprisingly, Ripley said, the artwork by domestic violence victims features themes about men, women, sexuality and violence.
"The whole point of the exhibit is to make people think about domestic violence," Ripley said. "The Safehouse is trying to bring it to the public's attention."
Ripley said the library hadn't received a single complaint until what is known as the "flag flap."
Marcelee Gralapp, longtime library director, initially refused a staff request to display a large American flag from the glass ceiling at the library's south entrance. She has since relented, but the brouhaha resulted in public scrutiny.
Ripley said 52 people called the library Monday over the flag flap, and three of them mentioned the clothesline piece.
Radio talk-show host Peter Boyles on Wednesday discussed the artwork.
A sign outside the gallery alerts visitors that they may find the display offensive. It says: "This exhibit contains mature material that may be objectionable to some."
The gallery is the site of a variety of community events, including a celebration Wednesday night of the 50-year anniversary of the city's planning department.
Community activist Ricky Weiser said she saw a young boy stare at the clothesline exhibit. Then she heard his mother say, "No dear, they're corn cobs."
Planning director Peter Pollock said it was hard for the planning department's anniversary party to compete with media attention over the clothesline piece.
"Fifty years of planning doesn't cut it when you have a string of penises," he said.
The artist who created "Hung Out to Dry" was not identified in the gallery, and Tapp declined to give the artist's name without her permission.
Typical Liberal crap. All rights, no responsibilities.
Are they made out of play doe? EWWW!
She says women find it amusing. Count me one woman who does not find it amusing at all. And yes, to AppyPappy, they do not fly the flag for fear of offending someone. But then this is The People's Republic of Boulder. Absoultely assinine!
I'm doing my part to get this person fired. So can you:
Marcelee Gralapp gralappm@boulder.lib.co.us
feedback@boulder.lib.co.us
Administration Offices:
Marcelee Gralapp, Library Director
Randy Smith, Assistant Director
1000 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: 303-441-3106
Boulder City Council: council@ci.boulder.co.us
The stories coming from the Blue Zone are so telling of the dominant culture there. What do you want to bet that this librarian was a Gore voter?
And please refrain from the 'Well Hung' jokes, because...well...Just don't go there.
Marcelee Gralapp,I hope they read it and take it to heart. I hope they get thousands of such emails.I just read about your disgusting display of 21 ceramic male "appendages" at the Boulder Library in the Domestic Violence display.
In a public place, which children frequent alone, it is absolutely disgusting and inappropriate that you would think of doing something like this.
I guess the message is that men's sexuality makes for victims, or some such hogwash. Criminal behavior makes for victims, of whatever gender.
Not putting the Artist's name with the "piece" is also very revealing in my opinion. Typical of the liberal dogma of "rights", "rights", "rights" and "me", "me", "me" with no responsibility or accountability.
I hope and pray that your library sees a marked decline in attendance and that you and your cultural director, Karen Ripley, loses your job as accountability for such a foolish, immoral and irresponsible decision.
Do not be surprised when this gets more national attention at a time when we as Americans need to come together as a people and morally to combat the enemies who strike us from without. When this type of moral decay and sickness exists within, it weakens the whole.
Jeff Head
Emmett, Idaho
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