Chocolate Jesus Bites The Dust

(AP)  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.

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.

[comfortmd1]

taking a nude guy sculpture and calling it Jesus right before easter, the poor terd of an artist just wanted to receive 15 minutes of fame hoping he could finally sell a piece of art

[bmsbms29]

Personally I can't see Jesus Christ in the statue at all. It looks like a man made in chocolate. Not very expressive or art to me.

He probably should just call it something else & not say it is Christ hanging on the cross.

But a statue of Jesus should never be done in the nude! that's sacrilege!!

And chocolate - please - chocolate is for eating!!! not 'art'

[godseyesore-2009]

The decision to cancel now makes this gallery a disgrace to the arts. Art is a right of expression and above pettiness of politics and religious bigots. The resignation of the Artistic Director, Mr Semler, shows him to evidently be the only person on staff with any integrity and scruples. As for the religious bigots who caused this uproar...well, its obvious they are mindless anyway.

[michellem99-2009]

It was on the local news here at Christmas time and it was the airport where they removed the trees because that rabbi. The port of Seattle runs and owns the airport. I like a pretty Christmas tree and it has nothing to with Christian things. The Christmas tree has always been part worldly Christmas. They perfer Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas as that was talked about in the news. I do feel that as a nation that have sep of church and state that the holiady tree is not Christian based. There is some many different faith systems here that get in a tizzy over everything. I do feel that I have the right to worship as I see fit but I don't have the right to force a person to/not worship as I feel they should. I do feel that chotlate Jesus is sick. I feel that the artists could use their skills for better things than making stuff that out rage. It is their nane tyed to it. Yes it is sad that holy wars take place. This is how I see it The church is the people not a building with a name on it. No churuh has all the answers. But it is how we live our lives without lip service that tells others our walk with God. It is not my place to tell you how to live. I do feel that you as I we have the right to share our faith. But we do have to be mindful of others and their rights in this matter. I don't like wars and It would be nice if everybody would care to live in peace. Be a nicer world. Peace of Christ be with you.

[retmilspouse]

ndg1979,
Why don't you just keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid, than opening it up a proving it. Read a book, consult a Theologian the Church has most of the world's schooled and studied among them. It does not matter what anyone says to you because you blieve your version of the truth. Catholics are the first Christians, I am so sorry you must not be among us or otherwise you would not be such a bitter person. Spin the facts any way you wish. You are ignorant of the truth.

[king77shaw]

add extra truth, go lite on the myth and you can throw a little chocolate sauce on there ...

[gunownerdan]

Silly religious nuts, fairytales are for KIDS!

[feelfree1]

retmilspouse,

Re: "feelfree1,
This is not about the war, go on another article to spew your nut job views about that topic."

I see. So I take it that whatever Satantic death cult you belong to, is in support of the mass-murder of brown people. How very predictable.

[candojj1]

How would anyone know if this Jesus was anatomically correct? Was it circumcised?

What's wrong with art? I just don't understand this. Why can't a private gallery have a sculpture of Jesus with a cholocolate *** and a chocolate body? Would it be better if Jesus were made out of concrete or marble?

The right wing AIPAC neoconservative BUSHwackin dumbo idiots need to go on a three hour cruise off the Iranian coast and start enjoying life and send us back some video footage on Al-Jazzera.

[l8c6]

Garbage stories like these should be a red light warning to the public to fight and fight to the end for net neutrality or else we'll be left with trash like this put out by those who use worldy wealth to bully their way around. There are ways to work around bullies. Social parasites need to be dealt with.