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A six-foot tall chocolate sculpture of Jesus which will be displayed at a Midtown hotel next week is stirring up controversy. Catholics are calling Cosimo Cavallaro's "My Sweet Lord" an "all-out war on Christianity."
The sculpture is supposed to be installed in a window at the Roger Smith Hotel's gallery, The Lab, on East 47th Street and Lexington Avenue. Cavallaro claims that the Easter-timing was a coincidence, and besides, this isn't his first chocolate Jesus. Per the Daily News, "Cavallaro said he crafted his first chocolate Christ in 2005, but a series of events, including the death of Pope John Paul II, kept it from being displayed."
While the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights's Bill Donohue says, "They wouldn't show a depiction of Martin Luther King Jr. with genitals exposed on Martin Luther King Day, and they wouldn't show Muhammed depicted this way during Ramadan. It's always Christians, and the timing is deliberate," some people aren't as bothered - they just rather him not be nude.
The Lab's director Matt Semler told the AP that Donohue's vitriol was a "Catholic fatwa" (Donohue recommended boycotting the hotel) and that the gallery was thinking about its plan: "We're obviously surprised by the overwhelming response and offense people have taken. We are certainly in the process of trying to figure out what we're going to do next."
Check out Cavallaro's website - he has also worked with cheese and ham.
Update, or BREAKING: CHOCOLATE JESUS MAY BE CRUCIFIED: Forgotten NY's Kevin Walsh sent us this link: According to Fox News, My Sweet Lord's appearance at The Lab has been canceled. We're trying to confirm this, but if anyone else knows, tell us!
Photographs by Mary Altaffer/AP
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Sweeeet.
Last easter I cooked rabbit on the bbq
delicious
Jesus would have loved it
isn't that a tom waits song?
Evidently, Donohue is more upset by the sculpture being naked as opposed to being made of chocolate.
However, I read somewhere that they would often crucify people naked, and it's only in artist depictions that Jesus has clothes -- so if anything, Cavallaro's sculpture is more true to the actual events.
Moreover, his comparisons to MLK and Muhammed aren't valid because neither has had a semi-nude or nude moment memorialized in historical records. In fact, any depiction of Muhammed is against the Koran, lest we forget about the turmoil created by the Mohammed cartoons last year. And I'm guessing a white chocolate sculpture of MLK in any position would be inappropriate. Maybe Donohue is offended that the sculpture is using dark chocolate, as opposed to white chocolate.
There also might be technical reasons why it's a naked Jesus. Since the sculpture has no hair, maybe it's because hair and a loincloth are hard to sculpt in chocolate.
Donohue is giving the artist and gallery what they want - controversy, publicity and attention. And that's because Donohue is getting what he wants - controversy, publicity and attention.
On a humorous note, maybe after Easter is over, they can shave off pieces of the chocolate sculpture and pass these out at communion on the wafers --- sort of a Catholic version "pain au chocolat".
Or maybe the chocolate sculpture will transubstantiate. Or next year, a sculpture of Jesus made of peeps.
what would chocolate jesus do?
A war on Christianity? LOL! It's a freakin piece of chocolate, not a bible burning ceremony!
As a Christian, I am deeply offended by this...I am offended that it is not small enough to be wrapped in foil and put in my kid's Easter baskets.
"Donohue is giving the artist and gallery what they want - controversy, publicity and attention. And that's because Donohue is getting what he wants - controversy, publicity and attention. "
yeah, basically.
donohue does have an obvious point - artists in america tend to go for low-hanging fruit, and generally don't get theo van gogh'd in the process. (by generally i mean "never")
it's just that in addition to his obvious - and potentially interesting - point, he's a jackass.
Bill Donohue is the Roman Catholic Al Sharpton.
^Agreed, (@ comment #6), but proposing to boycott a hotel is hardly a "fatwah" either.
only a chocolate jesus can satisfy my soul
Let's all get in the Way Back Machine for a book called Chocolate Jesus by Stephan Jaramillo.
Awesome, somebody please confirm that he has that cadbury egg cream filling inside! I call dibs on first bite of the ears.
Gimme a break. Christians are hardly a persecuted minority in this country. Let the wingnuts keep this kind of crap confined to the middle of the country.
If there's any cream I doubt very much it'll be in the ears, but I hope there might be nuts. Nuts always goes well with chocolate.
It's raving lunatics like Donohue, and pretty much all religious extremists that make me glad I am no longer Catholic.
Just curious, is there anything as a Buddist extremist?
#8, I agree... it's an easy target. It's sort of like art students' overuse of Barbies in mixed media pieces. That being said, I kinda like the overall forms in the Jesus piece.
I'm thinking it would have been less offensive to them had the sculplture was dripping with gore (raspberry flavored, perhaps?) BUT with its modesty protected by a loincloth. Then it would have been "a powerful and loving (and quite tasty) rendering of Christ's loving self-sacrifice for Mankind".
You know, 'cause nudity is bad and we must protect the children! Violence, not so much. *rolls eyes*
I'm not sure I understand what the controversy is about - that he's naked? Or made of delicious chocolate? I also read that the artist has invited people to devour the statue at the end of the exhibition. Sweet, sweet blasphemy...
First time I would ever enthusiastically look forward to accepting the body of Christ...
easter eggs! body of christ...yum
Well, he may be made of chocolate, but he doesn't look all that delicious. Look at all that white residue. Probably the cheap stuff.
Does one drink wine or milk with that?
Dude: just remember that Japan was a Buddhist nation, and look what happened during WWII. Also, Buddhist sects in Tibet and India regularly jump on each other because one believes in a certain deity and the other does not... so yes, if one is human, one can potentially be a religious extremist, Buddhists included. One of the probelms going on in Sri Lanka is the fight between Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims, too.
Although I don't think a chocalate Buddha would make anyone act like Donohue.
He also needs a marshmallow cross. I had to post again...this is just too glorious!!!
One other thing- 'Catholics' aren't upset. The ninnies at the Catholic League are upset. And they're a bunch of loonies.
Personally, I'm hoping for raspberry filling, or Manischewitz. And since Catholics eat and drink the body and blood of Christ each week, I don't see the big deal.
Sacrilicous!
Ummm...I'd rather have a chocolate Buddha than a chocolate Jesus, Achieve Enlightenment by Chocolate!
Actually the dominate religion in Japan was and still is Shinto, with Buddhist a minority religion. I am sure there's always infighting among converts of the same faith, whether it's Buddhist, Moslem or Christian. Although I have not met any Buddhist who'd belittle and even condemn people of other beliefs, nor try to put the fear of eternal damnation on others who don't believe in the Buddhist doctrine. Then again I have never lived in a Buddhist country.
Great point, Toby.
If Bill Donohue didn't exist, we artists would have to invent him.
I'm sorry the display was cancelled, I think it's censorship, but by the same token... thanks, Bill... mission accomplished.
This incident perfectly portrays how impoverished most contemporary art is. All that is left is a pitiful cry for attention based on novelty (Food Art!) and shock value (Naked Jesus in Holy Week!).
Roll Over, Rembrandt!
Easter finally makes fucking sense!
ps - Mad props to Michele for excellent usage of the word "ninnies".
Maybe I was reading too much into it, thinking it was a commentary on how many Americans mainly celebrate this supposedly sacred holiday by eating chocolate? Anyone else think that?
Maybe Wacky Bill wouldn't be so upset if Cavallaro had used *white* chocolate?
Look how small they made the Son of God's penis.
Blasphemers!
Jesus is just rebranding himself as a candy, rather than a savior.
I bet it's more about the lack on loincloth than anything else. And dark-skinned depictions of Jesus are always controversial, of course.
I don't immediately think "Jesus" when I see this, nor do I think "chocolate." I'd guess that it would be cast in wax before I'd guess chocolate. Without traditional elements like hair, cross, loincloth, etc., it just looks like a male nude in a pose similiar to a crucifixion.
I do like it, it's good work.
Everyone should relax. I remember the stupid controversy over the dark-skinned "dung smeared Madonna" when Sensation was @ the Bklyn Museum in '99. It's the opinion and work of one artist. The artists aren't asking religious people to change their faith, so religious fanatics should keep their noses out of things they know nothing about. Leave the art to the artists.
Artistic expression should be treated as normal - as religious expression is.
As long as they didn't fill him with nougat...
Nougat is an abomination before the Lord.
I agree with Michelle [25], Catholics aren't offended, the Catholic League is.
I'm Catholic and I don't know what the ruckus is.
First: Luke 23:34 "They divided his garments by casting lots." It's not like they went to his house and grabbed his dresser drawers and had a rummage sale.
Second: Philippians 2:7-8 "[Christ Jesus]...coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself,"
Forgive me if things have changed but last I looked, men had dangly bits.
And regarding fillings, I'd personally prefer solid chocolate. I always hated the hollow bunnies my aunt gave us.
#31, that's exactly what I thought the point of the sculpture was going to be about when I just saw the pic and the headline, a comment on the overmarketing of religious holidays and forgetting of the actual religious nature of observances like Christmas and Easter, etc.
From that angle, you would almost think that a blowhard like Donohue would actually get behind it.
Maybe if it was white chocolate.
The exhibition's been canceled and the gallery's creative director has resigned.
ask yourself this question about who's religion is persecuted in this country,....what do you think the outcry would be like if they put up a chocolate muhammad during ramadan......i bet no one would make fun of the first muslim defender to speak up.
Our Father Who Art In Heaven,
Please send forth another more Virtuous Gallery to display the Chocolate Jesus. If you do, I promise I'll go to Church every week, and won't sin until the next major chocolate-themed holiday.
Amen
Seriously though, any gallery should snatch this up. So mutch publicity...and you save money on cheese and wine if everyone is full with Flesh of Our Lord. I'd definitely go.
Shouldn't they play the Tom Waits song "chocolate Jesus" as they unveil it???
"Just curious, is there anything as a Buddist extremist?"
you betcha. sects accuse each other of being demon worshipping bastards all the time.
also, tibet was basically as slave state. it's important to keep that in mind.
"Shouldn't they play the Tom Waits song "chocolate Jesus" as they unveil it???"
No. "Chocolate Salty Balls."
I read most of the comments posted here & couldn't find anyone that stated the obvious . "WHY"?????? What's the point here ? Why would anyone make a chocolate Jesus . This had to have been done to piss some groups off
I would SO eat a chocolate JC! I would start at his naked groin, letting his chocolicious personal parts melt on my mouth and all over my chin like a little kid with a chocolate bunny... I'd videotape it and post it on youtube...
Maybe then my arts grant proposals will be taken seriously.
Seriously. It's chocolate, not religion. You don't see me getting all up in arms when people rename candy corn "Witch's Teeth" on my religion's new year.
Lighten up. It's just a system of belief.
Melts in your mouth, not on the cross!
As a sculptor I know that religion provides many interesting and potentially
controversial projects. An example from my own work would be:
www.bronzedreams.com/supplication.html
When I depict a nude in a situation like this it because the body itself has a
message and shrouding it obscures that message and I do not do it out of a
desire to offend the sensibilities of others. However even if an artist
gravely offends others with his work the artist should never be censored
because he serves a greater purpose by essentially serving as a cultural
looking glass.
Do you all not get it? Its about the fact that we as Christians are always put into the spotlight about something. This week a naked chocolate Jesus next week what? It may be an artists interpratation, but thats not the point. Jesus was a true man that walked on earth and died for all of our sins, all of us, that means you. Knowing where you are going when you die is a great feeling. That empty feeeling you have in the pit of your stomach, ache you feel for something more, Christ can fill that. He came for us, and died for us, and ROSE for us! He is alive and that is what Easter is all about, not art and trying to offend people. Christians are trying to celebrate thier freedom in Christ and creating a chocolate Jesus is a slap in the face. This not only offends me it makes me sad that so few people really understand the reason for Easter and why we celebrate.
I love reading about how Christians are the victims of so much opression. Christians rule this country and have since the beginning. All but 4 presidents were Christians:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidential_religious_affiliations
It's like white people complaining that "reverse-racism" is killing their chances of getting jobs.
Opression is being an automatic police suspect because of your skin color, is being arrested without charges, is being fired for political beliefs. Now Christians (and everyone else) are opressed in these ways in America, but we're not making much noise about it.
In Response to Comment 50:
Yet what many Christians don't know is that Easter is based off of the pagan celebration of the spring equinox. The name derives from Eostre, the Germanic goddess of spring and its traditions in modern times i.e. the 'easter egg' is mainly derived from the symbolism associated with this goddess. And the last time I checked, polytheistic religion was around a long time before Christianity came around. So before you act high and mighty about the "true" meaning of Easter, do a little research into the history of the holiday. You'll find that most if not all traditionally Christian holidays were means for which early Christians to "fit in" in a time when Christians were the minority.
I think is great pice of art,,,,BUT is not apppropiate for this time of the year.
For somepeople it will be a offence.
SOooooo!! we have to respec that fact!!!!!!!!
I’m disgusted by this “so called” artist who obviously can’t find anything better to do than make controversy and draw attention to him. This is grotesquely disrespectful to Jesus and everything that He is. Jesus paid the biggest price for mankind and to have His image displayed out of chocolate is ridiculous. This time of the year is to celebrate His Resurrection and His sacrifice for US His flock. Easter might have been based on pagan principles in the beginning like what’s his face monkey said, but that’s not the point or the issue here. The point is it is incredibly disrespectful to Jesus and everything that He stands for.
Plece i=mail me when is going to be the next display. sooo I can gooo!!
BIIIIIGGGGGG DEEEALLLLLL!!!
Look at those Greeks statues women mostly bare breasted and men are totally nude. Look at that famous Alexander the Great!!! He has a small weenie but his muscular physique has made up for it.
I am sick of those Catholic yahoos. They got a Adam & Eve syndrome going on. I go to any gym's changing room most men are in the nude going to shower or getting changed or having a chit chat. It's natural thing.
Donohue is extremely closed minded person. He's just a bible thumper looking for attention.
Pay him no mind and just enjoy art and the open mindness society like Europeans. Animals in the zoo are naked too you see monkey genetials hanging out of the branch. Do you need to clothe the animals and put speedos on them just because it's not Christian way. Spare us please.
They have forgotten we are still part of the animal kingdom. We just evolved for thousands of years from being a monkey and we separate ourselves from the animal kingdom and proclaimed us too smart to be part of them. Get over it!
Why are liberals such pussys ? If you don't like religion go to Iran and make a chocolate Allah.
What's sacrilegious here are all the comments this website has spawned.
I think it would have been more appropriate for the artist to have covered the genitals.. However, Jesus is the reason for the Holiday so any attention his way as opposed to the rabbit I see as a good thing. Some of the comments I read were hilarious! haha "what chocolate Jesus do?" ..funny.
On another note, it is kind of funny when you really stop to think about it. Initially Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden. There was nothing wrong with it. It wasn't until they ate from the forbidden fruit that they viewed it as wrong. So would Jesus find it improper? I suppose we may never know. I think it all really is dependant on each individual and what thoughts are invoked by this art.
Look. As a pastor, what I find far more offensive than a chocolate Jesus is the fact that self-righteous "Christians" get upset about it - and then trot out Peter Cottontail and turn Easter into just another excuse for gluttony and self indulgence. Although probably completely unintentional, the artist here has produced an amazingly ironic critique of mainline Christianity. It would only be better if he HAD wrapped it in foil and put it in a giant Easter basket. Cause I find that is exactly what most of the right wing "wingnuts" in the church have done, despite their pretentions otherwise.
Clean him up, make him sweet and delicious, wrap him in shiny, multicolored foil and take him to the church picnic wearing your loveliest pastel sundress - all the while beating over the head with him anyone that doesn't toe the party line.
If Jesus was still in his grave, he'd be rolling over in it. Instead, he's just munching on some yummy chocolate fundamentalists.