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Senior Citizens Protest Nude Statues in Middletown
June 22, 2005 – Senior citizens turned out for a
public forum of the Middletown (Conn.) Commission on the Arts to protest
three pairs of nude male sculptures that have been erected near the
senior center. The meeting was to provide information on 30 new
sculptures on Main Street named “Sculpture Mile at Middletown.”
There were “about nine seniors” at the meeting,
according to the Middletown Press.
The meeting was held to provide information about
the 30 new sculptures that have appeared on Main Street downtown, from
the North End to Union Street. In particular, many senior citizens have
objected to the three pairs of nude male bronzes that stand close to the
Senior Center on William Street, the work of Thompson sculptor Nicholas
Baker Swearer.
Following is from the Middletown Press report (click
to full story)
Tom Hardin, director of senior services, was the
moderator and he gave background on the history of "Brotherhood,"
"Agreement" and "Struggle," the nudes by Swearer. "It only took a matter
of minutes after the first installation near the boccie court before the
seniors noticed there was something different," he explained.
Within a few days, Hardin said, "(the sculptures)
had gained clothes. Someone went to a lot of trouble to wrap a beach
towel around the men embracing."
Allison began by saying the city is enthusiastic
about the opportunity a sculpture show of this size presents. "We’re
delighted to have this great exhibit come to town. I personally think
this is wonderful. It is public art and does a lot to bring tourists
in."
Bendig, founder of the Hollycroft Foundation in
Ivoryton, said he and Caudle are both senior citizens themselves, with
110 years of experience in art between them. Bendig says he welcomes
conversation about the Mile. "It’s far better to talk about art than
about Enron."
Appearing unfazed by the controversy Swearer’s
sculptures have raised so far, Bendig downplayed the senior’s
objections. "We have had a couple of bumps along the way. We always
have."
Then the questions and comments became more heated.
Rose Swol is a writer with a soon-to-be published
book on memories of Middletown. "The seniors are out here all the time
and they don’t like it at all," she said.
Bendig shot back with, "They have to learn. They
have to grow up. You’re in your second childhood like I am."
"Most of them that live here don’t like it," Swol
continued. She voiced the concern of many seniors who wonder why what
they perceive as controversial statues were placed in a location where
they pass every day. "It does not bother me. It does the seniors."
"It’s not intended to offend," Bendig offered.
David Dunklee lives at Sbona Towers. He was on the
grounds the day the statues appeared, June 2. "I thought it was men and
women," Dunklee said. "I thought it was Adam and Eve, something like
that. I was totally disgusted. I’m against civil unions. Me, I’m without
a car; they’re without clothes. When I saw them hugging each other, I
was total disgusted."
Bendig affirmed the sculptor’s intention. "There is
nothing erotic about these pieces. The art is very sincere. There is no
connection with any sexuality whatsoever. They’re nothing to do with
sexuality, they’re just naked.
"I hope that this will not be a cause célébre."
To explain the art selection process, Bendig said
an anonymous committee chooses the pieces. "We try to balance the entire
exhibit, half with traditional work, half with non-objective."
Svolos, one of the original founders of the NOMA
Gallery, has one of the sculptures outside her venue on Main Street,
Masaru Bando’s "Due," an embracing couple in bronze. "I’m grateful to
the Foundation for bringing this priceless collection to town," she
said. "It’s going to enhance our reputation as a sophisticated urban
town. The best art is the kind of art that makes you stop and think.
It’s the best that touches your own soul."
Bendig has been involved with sculpture shows in
Manchester, Westbrook, Ivoryton, Clinton and Madison. "I discovered
about 13 years ago that people don’t know much about sculpture."
He looks to the future. "I have a wild idea that in
three to four years, Middletown will be known as the Sculpture City of
Connecticut."
Plans call for the display along Main St. to be
comprised of 40 pieces by July.
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