‘Controversy’ show lives up to its name

Art depicting Bush getting sodomized prompts complaint to county official

By PHIL LaPADULA
Friday, May 27, 2005

The Broward Art Guild’s annual “Controversy” exhibit has lived up to its name this year. A gay artist’s entry that depicts President Bush in a compromising position has prompted a complaint to a county official and sparked a debate over art censorship.

What makes the flap even more interesting is that the individual who made the complaint is another artist who has his own controversial piece in the show. That piece depicts the pope as having ties to Nazi Germany.

The art work that prompted the complaint is a mixed-media painting by local gay artist Alfred Phillips. Titled “Yahoo,” Phillips’ piece depicts George Bush leaning over an oil barrel while being anally penetrated by an Arab who is cracking a whip. People are being crushed under the oil barrel.--