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Podmanic's avatar

The glossy surface and bronzey toning puts this smack dab in Jean Shepherd’s “slob art” department. That so many see a penis, bratwurst or hippo indicates that someone should have stepped in at the maquette stage.

If a sculpture is to evoke an emotion, a skillfully executed abstract object can work. If it is to represent specific persons, it can be attenuated, but it damn well better be recognizable as those persons. See: the Washington sculpture of MLK Jr. (text aside.) I can imagine a granite carving of the two emerging from a rough hewn base, huge, but only from waist up. Embracing, but with faces buried in each other’s neck, with hair and shape and enough forehead/cheek showing to be immediately recognizable, but full visages left to each of our memories.

Only question I am left with is How does this one eventually depart the Common? How about in a couple of years a Common rehab project is proposed. It goes to the MFA “temporarily” but becomes a permanent installation/their problem. You’re welcome.

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