Andres Serrano, not Mapplethorpe.

 

I think the picture is great. While I may not believe that a particular religion is responsible for the majority of problems a country may have, as an artist, you have to learn to respect the view of the person who creates the piece. For those on here who claim to be artists and still find this piece offensive, you are not a true artist. You have to learn to wrap your mind around the beauty and the meaning of a piece of work. You may not agree with the story this picture is telling, but you have to respect that it is a story that represents a point of view.

I think this picture serves it's purpose as a great piece. To see emotion flow like some of the people here have expressed is what art is all about. It may not be good at times, but tugging at the emotional workings of people in general is what great art is all about. I say, JOB WELL DONE!! Don't limit yourself based on who chooses to use your art or who chooses to reject it as trash.

 

Wow, let the thread exhumation begin, ha ha. I had forgotten all about this one.

Kidding aside, I would agree to a point about artists expressing themselves, but it's also their responsibility to use their power of influence in a way that is honest and not inflamatory for the sake of being inflamatory. In other words, it should make a valid point and not simply be there to upset people. The line is thin sometimes, and it depends on who is looking at it too. One thing for sure is that churches make a huge statement by the smallest things they do, say, or display, so they have to be ever mindful of their activities because it reflects directly on them and their followers. While they probably understand your artist's point of view it may not necessarily reflect their own. Churches display a form a of art everyday with the cross or star of David, etc, not to inflame people but to convey a message they feel is important too.

 

You could have put all of the "good books" on there. How many wars were fought on religious grounds???

 

I'm part-arabic XD

 

then your church would probably tell you to GTFO and stay out, lol. You should know better than to put anything that can actually be called art in a church "art" show. Churches are afraid of anything and everything that could possibly hint at anything offensive, period. The only art they want is bullshit still lifes of fruit on the table or another lame "awww, look at Jesus with some children" crap. Also, on a content note, its not the Koran, its misinterpretation and brainwashing using the koran that is causing terrorism. Strict followers of the Koran are generally non-violent. I would change it to a picture of a bullet and a stupid person because thats what causes violence, period.

 

Of course churches don't want offensive depictions on their walls. They don't exist as a personal art gallery or a personal platform for any agenda that happens wander through their doors.

There must be many brainwashed Muslims, because nearly every country in the world where they exist either has some sort of terrorism or some sort of oppressive activity connected to them. I have read example after example where this is true. Some people only hear about the high profile countries like Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Afghanistan. How about Egypt, Morrocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, Indonesia, Thailand, Phillipines, Nigeria, etc. etc? I swear you could wear yourself out reading all the information on this. How about in the Sudan where the teacher was arressted for making the mistake of naming a teddy bear Mohammed, or the cartoonist who was threatened with death for portraying Mohammed? Incredible lunacy.

In the U.S. I think you find the most peaceable Muslims, because they have managed to escape that oppression and thinking, and actually want to make something of their life. One big problem is education, or the lack thereof. It's hard for the general public to think otherwise when they are spoon fed "approved" media sources or oppresive religious leaders that are biased against the West and Israel. Mob rules, so even some of the ones overseas who have correct thinking get caught up in the culture or are guided by fear of retribution.

With that glaring truth from the rest of the world, I don't think churches of any flavor in the U.S. are too bad overall in the big picture of things.