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Boulder library's 'string of penises' artwork miffs some
Rocky Mountain News ^ | November 8, 2001 | Lynn Bartels & Julie Poppen

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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To: ethical
Hmmm, I've been trying to figure out some way to recycle those things.
21 posted on 11/08/2001 7:56:52 AM PST by Old Professer
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To: gdani
Marcelee Gralapp and alot of people just like her have forgotten that they are employed by the taxpayers. They should be made to keep there own view to themselves while at work and not use the workday, again paid for with tax dollars to bash America. I don't mind if she wants to support any BENT ideas in her off hours but when she will not let employees hang the American flag for fear of upseting someone, she is upseting many! We have to stand up to these people NOW! We have waited to long already. While the rest of us are out earning a living and trying to better ourselves they are quietly in small steps trying to destroy the things that made this country great.
22 posted on 11/08/2001 8:17:38 AM PST by Newbomb Turk
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To: gdani
From the Boulder Daily Camera article:

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.

23 posted on 11/08/2001 9:05:48 AM PST by martin_fierro
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To: gdani
"No, dear, they're corn cobs. That's why I call your dad 'Niblet.'"
24 posted on 11/08/2001 9:08:55 AM PST by mountaineer
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER

Are they made out of play doe? EWWW!

25 posted on 11/08/2001 9:10:03 AM PST by Teacup
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To: gdani
"Men find this disturbing, but women find it amusing," Ripley said.

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!

26 posted on 11/08/2001 10:20:23 AM PST by softengine
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To: gdani
The hypocrisy of this liberal idiot librarian is astounding. She says about displaying the flag, "We have people of every faith and culture walking into this building, and we want everybody to feel welcome," yet she permits a disgusting display of male genitalia sculpture to be shown in plain sight. Yeah - that makes everyone feel welcome... What she really means is, "The only people that should feel uncomfortable and unwelcome walking into this building are the American families who funded it and for whom it was intended."

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.

27 posted on 11/08/2001 12:03:23 PM PST by Spiff
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: gdani; AppyPappy; Spiff; pray boy
Here is the email I just sent to the Driector at the Library, the Boulder City Council and to their feedback eamil address:
Marcelee Gralapp,

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

I hope they read it and take it to heart. I hope they get thousands of such emails.
29 posted on 11/08/2001 12:27:30 PM PST by Jeff Head
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To: gdani
Further flurries in flap over flag
30 posted on 11/08/2001 2:39:13 PM PST by real saxophonist
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To: real saxophonist
� Ceramic penises taken, replaced with Old Glory
31 posted on 11/11/2001 10:52:48 AM PST by longleaf
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