By Tim Murphy
Bemidji, Minnesota—The most controversial piece of public art in the state of Minnesota sits on the corner of 4th Street and Beltrami Ave., in downtown Bemidji. For now. When I asked for directions at the Blockbuster outside town, I was told it had been moved. When I asked again at the supermarket, I was told it was no longer there. "But it's exactly what they say it is," said the teenaged boy at the deli counter, stifling a laugh.
"To be honest, I don't really understand why it's so controversial," say Christine Lundquist, sitting on a bench with her back to the controversy. "I guess they decided freedom of expression was no longer in the Constitution. That's how Deb wanted to paint it, and that's how it should be."
"I sit out here and read a lot. I eavesdrop—and I've only heard one negative comment. They said, 'That's disgusting!'" She rolls her eyes. "I mean, obviously it's a vagina…"..............
Banned in Bemidji: "Gaea," the little lady who started this whole broohaha (Photo: Tim Murphy).
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2 comments:
Hahahaha, that's great! O Bemidji, Bemidji, there's more to large scale public art (or should that be pubic art?) than just Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. I love how the article says that Gaea [sic] is "too close to Ground Zero" *guffaw*
that was my favorite laugh in the article too debra!
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