After receiving numerous complaints about a city-approved unity sculpture, local officials in the small town of Adrian Michigan have decided to move the piece to a less visible park in an attempt to curb controversy.
The sculpture in question is Mark Chatterley’s piece entitled “Blue Human Condition,” which was unveiled in late April at Adrian City Hall as a part of the city’s public art program. Depicting seven androgynous humans in various states of rest — some figures sitting on top of or leaning on others — Chatterley states that the piece is supposed to represent the idea that “living today, we can’t do it alone — we rely on other people… to try to survive.” But whereas Chatterley and numerous art critics agree that the sculpture of seven figures in repose and contemplation represents the idea of community and cooperation, several local community members have seen the piece as an obscene “orgy” — a piece they claim is both “disgusting” and an “abomination.”
In what some have dubbed “The Orgy Statue,” numerous community members have complained about the city-approved piece, asking for it to be removed, especially from the downtown area where children frequent. Local pastor Rick Strawcutter commented that the city’s endorsement of the piece is part of a larger anti-discrimination ordinance for LGBTQ residents and that the sculpture would “enshrine perversion and abomination in a protected status.” Whereas the art piece is protected by the First Amendment, some residents called for it to be removed in order to protect their right to “freedom of sight.”
In light of the backlash, Adrian city officials have decided to move the sculpture to Yew Park, off of downtown. “I think they’re hiding the piece, to be honest,” Chatterley said in response to the move. City Administrator Shane Horn replied, “I recognize there are likely to be people on both sides of the issue who are not satisfied, but I believe this decision provides an appropriate resolution.”
Although this case demonstrates the complexity of how cities deal with the issue of freedom of expression, especially when that expression is considered controversial by a small portion of the community, the decision to move the statue has rendered its own backlash. Several other community members have stepped forward to support the piece by putting together a petition protesting the move and, in one case, demonstrating physically the asexual nature of the work.
While it would have been best if the city had not capitulated to a vocal minority, the city government did lend some support to free expression by refusing to remove the statue from display altogether. Regardless, Chatterly refuses to let complaints or the city’s decision affect his work and continues to exercise his right to free expression as he sees fit.
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Contributing Editor Caitlin McCabe is an independent comics scholar who loves a good pre-code horror comic and the opportunity to spread her knowledge of the industry to those looking for a great story!