A nude bronze statue of a pregnant woman that stands 33-feet high has Long Island villagers up in arms, even though the artist claims the structure is a rendering of “The Virgin Mother.”
Also outrageous to some: The statue, from British artist Damien Hirst, has an exposed fetus, skull and tissue, The Associated Press reported. Specifically, the bronze part of the statue is peeled away on one side, from head to mid-thigh, exposing the artist’s rendering of flesh, in graphic blood-red.
The statue’s been placed on a piece of land that’s part of the Old Westbury estate, a conservation easement, AP said. It was previously located at the courtyard at Lever House in Manhattan.
The Long Island village has rigid rules regarding conservation easements, however, and residents say the statue doesn’t meet the guidelines.
The local government is set to hold a hearing on the matter in mid-May.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.