Thou Shalt Melt in Thy Mouth; Not in Thy Hands
 

Outcry Nixes Giant Chocolate Jesus Show
"My Sweet Lord" is Sacrelig, Yet Compellingly Delicious & Satisfying:

Outcry Cancels Chocolate Jesus Show
By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, March 31, 2007
New York (AP) --

A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday after Cardinal Edward Egan and other outraged Catholics complained.

The "My Sweet Lord" display was shut down by the hotel that houses the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan. Roger Smith Hotel president James Knowles cited the public outcry for his decision.

The reaction "is crystal clear and has brought to our attention the unintended reaction of you and other conscientious friends of ours to the exhibition," Knowles wrote in the two-paragraph cancellation notice.

Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director, resigned in protest.

The six-foot sculpture was the victim of "a strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing," Semler said. "They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions."

But word of the confectionary Christ infuriated Catholics, including Egan, who described it as "a sickening display." Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, said it was "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever."

The hotel and the gallery were overrun Thursday with angry phone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. Semler said the calls included death threats over the work of artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who was described as disappointed by the decision to cancel the display.

"In this situation, the hotel couldn't continue to be supportive because of a fear for their own safety," Semler said.

The sculpture was to debut Monday evening, the day after Palm Sunday and just four days before Christians mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit was planned for Easter Sunday.

The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and features Christ with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical religious portrayal of Christ, the Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.

Cavallaro hoped the sculpture could go on display elsewhere, according to Semler.

Cavallaro is best known for his quirky work with food as art: Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home, and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.

Link to story: http://tinyurl.com/277h8r

What a fucking waste of food.

He should make a Mocha Mohammed and see how well that idea goes over. Put Sweet Jesus and Mocha Mohammed with a Krispy Krishna and a Butterscotch Buddha, piss off pretty much everybody.

I love that the guy/hotel received death threats. Good Lord people are stupid.

You know Meatpeaker is pissed that this thing got canceled. He's probably looking on ebay right now to see if Jesus's chocolate junk is for sale.

I bet all the complaints were about Jesus being black.

Well, at least you can say he's skillful. The detail on that is pretty incredible.

I'm always amazed when you see something sculpted out of marble in such intricate detail you really only get a sense of it in person, but how an artist can turn a big block of rock into something like that is pretty amazing.

This thread is worthless without Jenny or Carlotta.

That's impressive. Chocolate? Wow.

Jesus Christ in a chicken basket, when will people stop getting so bent about stupid shit? Save your outrage for something that really matters, phuqwits.

P.S. - Many more people have now seen the damned thing due to your outrage than would have even known it existed without.

And for those who can't get enough of His chocolatey goodness, here's a shot of His Hershey Highway.

http://www.cosimocavallaro.com/pics/full/christ2.jpg

Hard to believe, but this isn't the first story about an "Immaculate Confection":

VIRGIN MARY DRIPPED IN CHOCOLATE

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - August 18, 2006 - As a chocolatier to the rich and famous, Martucci Angiano has posed with many celebrities.

But on Thursday she held in her hand a figure that dazzles her more than any Hollywood star: a 2-inch-tall column of chocolate drippings that workers at her gourmet chocolate company believe bears a striking resemblance to the Virgin Mary.

Since the discovery at Bodega Chocolates, Angiano's employees have spent much of their time hovering over the tiny figure, praying and placing rose petals and candles around it.

More on this story: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...rre&id=4474273

Needs a Heath toffee cross.

OK, that pisses me off. You don't waste ham. That's bullshit.

I ate a big block of cheddar cheese tonight, I'm afraid of what my nose is going to wake up to in the morning.