"My Sweet Lord" Exhibit Shut Down Over Protests

[Bronco_Beerslug]

So "Christians" and catholics were threatening to kill people over a chocolate Jesus............ ROFL!

---------------------------------------------
Chocolate Jesus show canceled (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070330/ap_on_re_us/chocolate_jesus_4)
By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday amid a choir of complaining Catholics that included Cardinal Edward Egan.


http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070329/capt.b0371781c97a4e0cad6ff602662ef6a4.chocolate_je sus_nyma106.jpg?x=380&y=341&sig=gc3XXeT5JfuoUa7BXLJcog--
'My Sweet Lord,' a chocolate statue by artist Cosimo Cavallaro of a naked Jesus hangs at Ranieri�s Sculpture Casting studio Thursday, March 29, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)



The "My Sweet Lord" display was shut down by the hotel that houses the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan, said Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director. Semler said he submitted his resignation after officials at the Roger Smith Hotel shut down the show.

The six-foot sculpture was the victim of "a strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing," Semler said. "They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions."

But word of the confectionary Christ infuriated Catholics, including Egan, who described it as "a sickening display." Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, said it was "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever."

The hotel and the gallery were overrun Thursday with angry phone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Semler said the calls included death threats over the work of artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who was described as disappointed by the decision to cancel the display.

"In this situation, the hotel couldn't continue to be supportive because of a fear for their own safety," Semler said.

The sculpture was to debut Monday evening, the day after Palm Sunday and just four days before Roman Catholics mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit was planned for Easter Sunday.

The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and features Christ with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical religious portrayal of Christ, the Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.

Cavallaro is best known for his quirky work with food as art: Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home, and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.

[Rohirrim]

Cavallaro is best known for his quirky work with food as art: Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home, and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.

A man who has truly suffered to maintain his artistic integrity.

[ant1999e]

It's about damn time.

[bendog]

I know what piece I don't want.

[Bronco Bob]

Death threats? I'm shocked. And after all this time and effort that
yavoon went into to prove that only Muslim want to kill people for insulting
their religion.

[yavoon]

Death threats? I'm shocked. And after all this time and effort that
yavoon went into to prove that only Muslim want to kill people for insulting
their religion.

oh good more dumbasses lying about me. just what I need in life. hey guess what? muslims didn't invent and aren't the sole proprietors of ANY of the ills in the world.

they're just #1 right now. maybe tomorrow the commies will come back in swing, or we'll have another inquisition. and u know what, I'll be there mad about that stupid **** too. where will u be? telling me that I can't get mad at the next bad thing because muslims use to be bad?

its the same ****tard argument I get from all the dumb**** lefties, "omg there are other ills in the world we can't possible say anything about muslims!"

honestly just think about some of the stupid crap that u think is politicaly correct.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Many offers for chocolate Jesus (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070401/ap_on_re_us/chocolate_jesus_16)
36 minutes ago

NEW YORK - An anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ infuriated Catholics and even led to threats, but the artist says offers to buy or exhibit the piece have been pouring in.

Artist Cosimo Cavallaro said Saturday that because of "some people who are fanatics" and the threats he received, he had stored the sculpture in a refrigerated truck in an undisclosed location.

A Manhattan gallery on Friday called off a planned exhibit of the 6-foot sculpture — called "My Sweet Lord" — amid a deluge of complaints from Catholics, including Cardinal Edward Egan.

They were offended by the confection, which does not include the loincloth typical in religious portrayals of Christ. Many also were outraged that the gallery planned to display the sculpture during Holy Week. The exhibit was to have run from Monday through Easter Sunday inside Manhattan's Roger Smith Hotel.

Cavallaro said the controversy spurred "thousands" of e-mail messages from people offering help, donations and exhibition space.

"It's quite amazing," he said.

[Dudeskey]

http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/mg/art/film/9912/991230-buddy.jpg way to love your neighbor... Jesus would be so ****in' proud

[Bronco Bob]

And yet ironically many so-called Christians have no problem eating
heathen symbols such as nude chocolate easter bunnies.

[Bronx33]

Religion almost sucks anymore...

[yavoon]

And yet ironically many so-called Christians have no problem eating
heathen symbols such as nude chocolate easter bunnies.

there are clothed easter bunnies? that would be hilarious.

and easter bunnies are delicious:).

[Barry Ramey]

Yeah, it's too bad so many Christian type schools are teaching kids to hate and kill different religions and ethnic groups. Oh wait, no, that's so many schools of Islam doing that. Difference is when someone professes to be a Christian and makes such remarks about doing violence, they rightly get condemned by other Christians. When followers of Islam do that, they get applauded and revered by too many and those that oppose keep quiet. Trying to equate Christian zealots with Islamic ones and somehow believing the numbers are about equal is the work of stupid idiots(this is what people like uneducated, ignorant Rosie O'Donnell do who they think they are experts on subjects simply because they're actors and comedians)who hate Christianity and think Jesus was a waste of time and really don't have a clue what they're talking about and make that very clear every time they attempt to talk about religion. If want to compare, then let's count how many Christian type protests have resulted in the burning of buildings, among other things, deaths, and mob attacks on businesses to those of Islamic type protests done in the ME. But I'm sure the liberal types will still find a way to say, "um duh, they are about equal because Rosie the expert said so."

[Spider]

Hilarious! could you imagine if he made Jesus out of Limburger cheese ........ or German chocolate ........

[fontaine]

Looks like both parties (artist/curator and various religious nuts) got exactly what they wanted. Loads and loads of publicity.

Win win situation for everyone.

To quote Homer Simpson:

http://drool.popey.com/drool.jpg

"Arrrrrhmmm. . . Sacrilicious"

[Spider]

I know what piece I don't want.

the foot ? ;D

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Yeah, it's too bad so many Christian type schools are teaching kids to hate and kill different religions and ethnic groups. Oh wait, no, that's so many schools of Islam doing that. Difference is when someone professes to be a Christian and makes such remarks about doing violence, they rightly get condemned by other Christians. When followers of Islam do that, they get applauded and revered by too many and those that oppose keep quiet. Trying to equate Christian zealots with Islamic ones and somehow believing the numbers are about equal is the work of stupid idiots(this is what people like uneducated, ignorant Rosie O'Donnell do who they think they are experts on subjects simply because they're actors and comedians)who hate Christianity and think Jesus was a waste of time and really don't have a clue what they're talking about and make that very clear every time they attempt to talk about religion. If want to compare, then let's count how many Christian type protests have resulted in the burning of buildings, among other things, deaths, and mob attacks on businesses to those of Islamic type protests done in the ME. But I'm sure the liberal types will still find a way to say, "um duh, they are about equal because Rosie the expert said so."
Your defense of idiots (in the name of Christians) is pretty funny. I'm sure Christians everywhere really appreciate you explaining what is actually happening in the world.

[Bronco Bob]

Speaking of Jesus sculptures:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070403/ap_on_el_pr/obama_as_jesus;_ylt=An7WDvVD0P0A0sfth3L.7q6MwfIE

[defenseman]

Death threats? I'm shocked. And after all this time and effort that
yavoon went into to prove that only Muslim want to kill people for insulting
their religion.

Now that is a reasonable take/retort on your part. I agree with you. The "fanatics" if in fact they did issue death threats over a chocolate jesus is just plain ridiculous. the christian "fanatics" percentage is probably about the same percentage of muslims who are extremists. Both pretty small and both groups are way over the top and need to be reigned in. They do make it bad for the moderates of each respective group...dman

[defenseman]

And yet ironically many so-called Christians have no problem eating
heathen symbols such as nude chocolate easter bunnies.

Easter bunnies are NOT religious. They are just easter bunnies. Look it up......dman

[TheDave]

Why is this a big deal?

[defenseman]

Who freaking knows? It's a chocolate figurine of sorts, and absolutely nothing to get worked up about as far as I can tell...dman

[yavoon]

Now that is a reasonable take/retort on your part. I agree with you. The "fanatics" if in fact they did issue death threats over a chocolate jesus is just plain ridiculous. the christian "fanatics" percentage is probably about the same percentage of muslims who are extremists. Both pretty small and both groups are way over the top and need to be reigned in. They do make it bad for the moderates of each respective group...dman

u must have a really low opinion of christians:

"Almost half of all Saudis said in a poll conducted last year that they have a favorable view of Osama bin Laden's sermons and rhetoric"