Artist's Michelangelo replica could land him in jail - Over Breasts

[matcom]

<snip>

ROSEVILLE — Edward Stross says there’s nothing wrong with bringing a little culture to the streets of Roseville.

When the 42-year-old artist set out to duplicate Michelangelo’s “Birth of Adam” painting on the side of his studio building facing Utica Road off Gratiot, he just wanted to bring some life to the street.

But the painting, which portrays bare-chested women, has left Stross facing possible jail time for violating city rules.

“This is one of the world’s most famous paintings,” said Stross, sometimes known as Gonzo, who has had run-ins with the city government for other displays. “This is not my work, it is Michelangelo’s, and all I am trying to do is brighten up our community.”

John Knapp, the Roseville city manager, said the city granted Stross a zoning variance that allowed him to paint a mural on the wall of his business at Gratiot and Utica.

Knapp said there were certain stipulations including “there would be no breasts.”

http://www.detnews.com/2004/metro/0408/11/b01-239140.htm

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Boobies are bad, m'kay?

Sometimes I think our culture is just pathological.

[gpandas]

3. sometimes? n/t

[NC_Nurse]

2. America the Pitiful

sigh...

[aden_nak]

4. Oh no, not breasts!

/rolleyes

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Well, it's about time

someone cracked down on that disgusting pornographer Michelangelo, and all those other disgusting pornographers of the Renaissance.

Now they just have to get rid of all those sick, naked, ancient Greek and Roman statues, and later imitations, like that Justice statue with the booby that Ashcroft had to cover up, and the world will be safe for decent God-fearing people everywhere.

[mermaid]

6. God Fearing?

no, more like BOOB-Fearing!!
But if they are SO AFRAID of boobs, then why is Dubya still in the White House?
And why are they so rabidly opposed to homosexuals?

Gods, maybe if they pound the message hard enough into our young people that boobs are so horrible, a generation of young boys will all become homosexual!

[ladjf]

8. We are rushing headlong toward the return of the Inquisitions.

[Coventina]

7. er, but showing a penis is fine and dandy???

I am familiar with that work, and I can tell you that Adam's little pee-pee is much more front and center than any bare breasts!!!

That's just bizarre! Usually the penis is the LAST thing people tolerate in public. Bare breasts are not usually that big a deal.
:shrug:

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Maybe it was so tiny

that no one noticed it?:shrug:

Breasts have been a big deal ever since Ashcroft brought decency back to American statuary.