Tall fences make good neighbors

George the Atheist reports that a wooden fence has been erected (heh) around "Bear Eats Man" at Socrates Sculpture Park.

Bear Eats Man has been altered

Contributor George the Atheist received a response to the open letter he sent to Parks Commissioner Veronica White about "Bear Eats Man" at Socrates Sculpture Park:
It's hard to believe that the property owner, the Parks Dept, has no jurisdiction over what is placed on its own property.

A barely noticeable sign now warns visitors that there is a depiction of a "nude male" inside the park. (But not what is happening to the nude man's rear.)

Egad! The nude man has been vandalized!

Pornographic sculpture at Socrates?

From George the Atheist's blog, which includes an objection letter to Veronica White, Parks Commissioner:

"...this narrative depicts a moment of shock and death." What? Death by tumescence?

"The wild bear looms over man while sinking his teeth into the man's shoulder." You see teeth here? I sense something else is being sunk into that poor fellow. Even his buttocks are bloody red!

Ms White, little innocent New York City School children visit this park quite often. Must they be subjected to such an offensive, disgraceful and outrageous depiction of bad taste, questionable "art", and obvious pornography? I submit this borders on child abuse. Just what is going on with the New York City Parks Department under your aegis which champions this blatant display of bestiality?

Do guys getting attacked by bears normally have erections? Just curious.

Rich people donate to something in Queens!

From Crains:

Donald and Shelley Rubin continued their generous support of arts organizations in the outer boroughs by pledging to donate $300,000 to Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens. It is the largest gift the nonprofit has ever received for programming and the second largest in its 27-year history. The announcement was made at the park's gala on Thursday night.

"This gift is going help get us to the next level," said John Hatfield, executive director of the 4.7-acre waterfront park.

The money, which will be distributed over three years, comes several months after the couple donated $500,000 to The Queens Museum and $500,000 to the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Their support of the arts isn't limited to the outer boroughs, however. The couple founded the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan, which opened in 2004 and specializes in art from the Himalayas.