Dear Editor,

What is this fixation certain people have against nude sculpture? For centuries, it's been used to depict honesty, openness, and the truth. From what I can see of the Jamaican statues in "Redemption Song", Laura Facey Cooper has made an honest attempt at showing the nobility and innate beauty of African-originated people -- once slaves, now free. She has shown them as they are without the artificial covering of clothes. As to the sniping of small-minded critics, haven't they heard of the concept of artistic interpretation? The two bronzes are Ms Cooper's vision as an artist and that should be respected. She hasn't attempted to be vulgar, or needlessly controversial.

I don't care what religion, or what age, you are -- there is nothing wrong with seeing the human body as it is. We've all got bodies and can at least identify with nude sculpture on that level alone. Note to religious prudes: Christ was crucified nude. Is nakedness associated with redemption? You bet!

I'm sick and tired of all the silly arguments used against the honest use of human nudity in art (or the simple fact of human nudity itself). Just because nudity can be twisted by pornography, or certain people are ashamed of their bodies, or shackled by over-repressive religious beliefs, does not negate the simple, honest fact that we're all nude at one time or another.

As to Ms Cooper's lack of pigmentation, give it a rest! Where is it written an artist has to resemble completely his or her art? It's art, for Pete's sake! It's time some members of the human race got over themselves and admitted we're all in this thing called life together. Laura Facey Cooper is to be applauded and supported in her efforts to show the truth about life through her art. Society needs artists like her to show us ourselves. "Right on!" I say, and "Brava".

Tom.
Thomas Pine
wordworker@earthlink.net

The fear factor

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS