Chocolate Jesus not to all tastes

CBC News

House Member
Sep 26, 2006
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A Montreal-born artist who has made works out of rubber, cheese and ham is stirring the pot with his new work - a lifelike sculpture of Jesus Christ made out of chocolate.

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s243a

Council Member
Mar 9, 2007
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Why should it be offensive? Aren’t Christians accustom to eating the body of Christ?
 

westmanguy

Council Member
Feb 3, 2007
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Well we do eat crackers in church communion to commemorate God.

But I don't agree with this.
 

sanctus

The Padre
Oct 27, 2006
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A Montreal-born artist who has made works out of rubber, cheese and ham is stirring the pot with his new work - a lifelike sculpture of Jesus Christ made out of chocolate.

More...

I wonder what his motivation is? Perhaps he is making the point that we have mis-represented the nature of Easter by focusing on chocolate instead of Christ. In that case, he is quite correct.

It is further interesting that he has chosen the most holiest week of the Christian year to unveil his "art".
 

sanctus

The Padre
Oct 27, 2006
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Update

N.Y. gallery cancels naked chocolate Jesus exhibit


By Daniel Trotta
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Manhattan art gallery canceled on Friday its Easter-season exhibit of a life-size chocolate sculpture depicting a naked Jesus, after an outcry by Roman Catholics.
The sculpture "My Sweet Lord" by Cosimo Cavallaro was to have been exhibited for two hours each day next week in a street-level window of the Roger Smith Lab Gallery in Midtown Manhattan.
The display had been scheduled to open on Monday, days ahead of Good Friday when Christians mark the crucifixion of Jesus. But protests including a call to boycott the affiliated Roger Smith Hotel forced the gallery to scrap the showing.
"Your response to the exhibit at the Lab Gallery is crystal clear and has brought to our attention the unintended reaction of you and other conscientious friends of ours to the exhibition of Cosimo Cavallaro," Roger Smith Hotel President James Knowles said in a statement addressed to "Dear Friends."
"We have caused the cancellation of the exhibition and wish to affirm the dignity and responsibility of the hotel in all its affairs," the statement said.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights had called for a boycott of the hotel, writing to 500 religious and secular organizations.
"This is an assault on Christians during Holy Week," said Kiera McCaffrey, director of communications for the league, which describes itself as the largest U.S. Catholic civil-rights group.
"They would never dare do something similar with a chocolate statue of the prophet Mohammad naked with his genitals exposed during Ramadan," she said before the cancellation.
The archbishop of New York called the sculpture "scandalous" and a "sickening display."
"This is something we will not forget," Cardinal Edward Egan said in a statement.
Matthew Semler, the artistic director of the gallery, said earlier that the hotel had no knowledge of what the gallery planned to show and was being unfairly targeted. Moreover, he said the work was not irreverent.
"It's intended as a meditation on the Holy Week," Semler said of the sculpture, which depicts Jesus as if on the cross. Easter Sunday, this year April 8, is celebrated as the day of Jesus' resurrection.
A photo of the piece on the artist's Web site (http://www.cosimocavallaro.com/) shows the work suspended in air.
New York is familiar with clashes between art and religion.
In 1999, then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani tried to withdraw a grant from the Brooklyn Museum of Art for a painting depicting the Virgin Mary as a black woman splattered with elephant dung adorned with cut-outs from pornographic magazines.
Current Mayor Michael Bloomberg took a different approach.
"If you want to give the guy some publicity, talk more about it, make a big fuss," Bloomberg told WABC radio. "If you want to really hurt him, don't pay attention."
© Reuters 2007
 

s243a

Council Member
Mar 9, 2007
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I wonder what his motivation is? Perhaps he is making the point that we have mis-represented the nature of Easter by focusing on chocolate instead of Christ. In that case, he is quite correct.

It is further interesting that he has chosen the most holiest week of the Christian year to unveil his "art".

That is a good analysis. So if the point is to say not enough attention is put on Christ on Easter then why are Christians getting offended? Shouldn’t they say what a great statement? I forget what is the point of communion anyway? Isn’t it suppose to represent the last supper but I am sure that people weren’t on the menu of the last supper.
 

El Barto

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Feb 11, 2007
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It makes me laugh that the most insignificant thing can upset the most up tight of people.
BIG DEAL. If no one buys it then he'll stop making it. Beside I think his intention was good.
 

sanctus

The Padre
Oct 27, 2006
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That is a good analysis. So if the point is to say not enough attention is put on Christ on Easter then why are Christians getting offended? Shouldn’t they say what a great statement? I forget what is the point of communion anyway? Isn’t it suppose to represent the last supper but I am sure that people weren’t on the menu of the last supper.

Most people see things only on the surface. They don't, sad to say, think beyond their base reactions.

Communion is the sacramental action of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, as a sign of unity in Him and His Church.
 

sanctus

The Padre
Oct 27, 2006
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It makes me laugh that the most insignificant thing can upset the most up tight of people.
BIG DEAL. If no one buys it then he'll stop making it. Beside I think his intention was good.

What do you interpret as his intention? I'm not sure it was stated.

As for people getting upset. That is HIS fault. When you choose to do something which you know is a sensitive issue to many people, you must be ready for the reaction.
 

El Barto

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Feb 11, 2007
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What do you interpret as his intention? I'm not sure it was stated.

As for people getting upset. That is HIS fault. When you choose to do something which you know is a sensitive issue to many people, you must be ready for the reaction.
I don't think he meant it as offensive, s234a may have touched something on his intention. Easter and Christ. To me in your religion it would be like highlighting Jesus more than Santa claus at christmas.
Maybe that was his intention. If he wanted to be offensive he would be much more direct I would think.
 

sanctus

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I don't think he meant it as offensive, s234a may have touched something on his intention. Easter and Christ. To me in your religion it would be like highlighting Jesus more than Santa claus at christmas.
Maybe that was his intention. If he wanted to be offensive he would be much more direct I would think.


That was my take on the piece as well. It is a compelling point. Too many Catholic children and parents focus on the Easter Bunny and the candy over the Resurrection.
 

Nikki

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Jul 6, 2006
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I understand why they are offened.Don't they believe you shouldn't idolize objects? That being said it's their own fault. Too many catholics focus on the imaginary easter bunny and chocolate instead of their reilgion. It has become commercialized (just like xmas). Therefore its the mess they created. IMO.
 

sanctus

The Padre
Oct 27, 2006
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I understand why they are offened.Don't they believe you shouldn't idolize objects? That being said it's their own fault. Too many catholics focus on the imaginary easter bunny and chocolate instead of their reilgion. It has become commercialized (just like xmas). Therefore its the mess they created. IMO.


You're blaming the Catholic Church for Easter bunnies and chocolate? We are the only ones buying the stuff? Protestants and non-believers are, I assume, not participating in the secular holiday celebrations and gift buying?:)