Anatomically correct chocolate Jesus sculpture exhibit , condemned as ‘hate’ by Catholic group, canceled
NEW YORK (Catholic Online) – The Holy Week unveiling of a milk chocolate anatomically correct sculpture of Jesus Christ, which was condemned by a Catholic rights group, has been canceled as a result of the negative response it received.
The 6-foot sculpture, called “My Sweet Lord,” by artist Cosimo Cavallaro was scheduled to be viewed at the Lab Gallery inside midtown Manhattan's Roger Smith Hotel from Palm Sunday, April 1, through Holy Saturday, April 7. The sculpture’s location on the first floor and ability promised it being viewed from the street by thousands of passers-by in the busy neighborhood just north of Grand Central Terminal.
In response to a public outcry over the 200-pound, 485,460-calorie sculpture of Jesus, shown naked and hanging on a cross, the Roger Smith decided March 30 to "affirm the dignity and responsibility of the hotel" by canceling the controversial exhibit.
“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,” said James Knowles, president of the hotel.
The sculpture was seen as a confectionary attack on Catholicism by the head of the watchdog Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
"This is one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever," said Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, in two March 29 press releases. "It's not just the ugliness of the portrayal, but the timing — to choose Holy Week is astounding."
“As I’ve said many times before, Lent is the season for non-believers to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus,” he said.
“This is hate speech. And choosing Holy Week,” he added, “makes it a direct in-your-face assault on Christians.”
Donohue had called for an economic boycott of the hotel, which he described as "already morally bankrupt."
He said that the Catholic League contacted hundreds of Catholic, other religious and non-sectarian organizations that “represent millions of Americans,” adding that those groups “can be counted on to never hold a conference at the hotel. And more – they will let all of their allies know about this incident.”
“The Roger Smith Hotel will rue the day it sought to declare war on Christian sensibilities,” Donhue said.
He said he was “delighted” with the decision to cancel the exhibit.
Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director, resigned after officials at the Roger Smith Hotel shut down the show, CNN reported.
Cavallaro is best known for other food-related art, including the covering of a New York City hotel room in melted cheese in 1999.
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