This sculpture, Siren, is didplayed at the community center of our village. It was reported by a local newspaper and the pictures was posted on the 2006 first issue of the Playboy magazine and the Body in Mind - a better world through beauty website (http://www.bodyinmind.com/news.htm#).
The Siren (Photo: Mark Randall/Sun-Sentinel)
The Siren, a sculpture by an artist Norman Gitzen, from Lake Worth of Florida has created quite a stir with the folks in this sleepy little Florida village of 38,000 residents.
Norman Gitzen
On loan as part of the newly initiated "Art in Public Places" program, the sculpture has some in the community abuzz, with a few of the village residents threatening to make their feelings heard at the next meeting of the village council. Indeed, there have been a few irate phone calls into the Village switchboard about The Siren.
Standing over 3 meters tall, and nearly 2 meters across, the statue is constructed of concrete and steel. Her arms are raised above her head like a ballerina's, and her slender frame is curved back and up in the shape of a teardrop.
At issue is the part of her anatomy which swells bounteously between her slender neck and shimmering tail, leading one resident to refer to her as a cross between Mae West, Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson.
Only a week or so ago, The Siren took her place in a flower bed outside the community center, close to the Village swimming pool.
Feelings have been mixed since she was delivered by Gitzen and his crew: Catherine Flocke, the village's community programs manager, told one local newspaper, "It's become very popular for photos when we have events."
Some people look on the sculpture as a piece of artwork - which often includes glimpses of the anatomy normally kept private. But others are not so fond of her. Gitzen surmises that they may simply be jealous.
Gitzen said he was shocked and sad to hear that some might think The Siren is obscene. "I didn't mean for her to be vulgar in any way," Gitzen said. "I purposely didn't put nipples on her because of the decency clause. And, besides, you can see more detail if you go over to the swimming pool."The Siren, a sculpture by Wellington artist Norman Gitzen, has created quite a stir with the folks in this sleepy little Florida village of 38,000 residents.
On loan as part of the newly initiated "Art in Public Places" program, the sculpture has some in the community abuzz, with a few of the village residents threatening to make their feelings heard at the next meeting of the village council. Indeed, there have been a few irate phone calls into the Village switchboard about The Siren.
Standing over 3 meters tall, and nearly 2 meters across, the statue is constructed of concrete and steel. Her arms are raised above her head like a ballerina's, and her slender frame is curved back and up in the shape of a teardrop.
At issue is the part of her anatomy which swells bounteously between her slender neck and shimmering tail, leading one resident to refer to her as a cross between Mae West, Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson.
Only a week or so ago, The Siren took her place in a flower bed outside the community center, close to the Village swimming pool.
Feelings have been mixed since she was delivered by Gitzen and his crew: Catherine Flocke, the village's community programs manager, told one local newspaper, "It's become very popular for photos when we have events."
Some people look on the sculpture as a piece of artwork - which often includes glimpses of the anatomy normally kept private. But others are not so fond of her. Gitzen surmises that they may simply be jealous.
Gitzen said he was shocked and sad to hear that some might think The Siren is obscene. "I didn't mean for her to be vulgar in any way," Gitzen said. "I purposely didn't put nipples on her because of the decency clause. And, besides, you can see more detail if you go over to the swimming pool."
Residents come out in favor of big breasted statue
A statue of a large-breasted mermaid called "The Siren" received an anonymous complaint from a woman in Wellington, Florida where the statue is on public display. However, when the issue was brought before the Wellington village council meeting, more than a dozen residents turned out in support of the statue and its creator, Norman J Gitzen.
"To call The Siren obscene is not okay for me." Said Susan Salidino, Wellington Art Society member."The Siren is no more obscene for its breasts than my fifth grade teacher who was endowed with the largest bosom I've ever seen."
Gitzen himself added. "To me, the accusation that she is obscene, to me, that is obscene — totally unfounded."
The council agreed, and voted to keep the statue where it is.
