Chocolate Sculpture of a Nude Jesus

Editors note: I included some of the comments from readers of this story.

He seeks new home for 'Jesus'

Choc-statue artist sez offers abound

BY CHRISTINA BOYLE and NICOLE LYN PESCE
DAILY NEWS WRITERS


Artist Cosimo Gavallero with his controversial chocolate Jesus sculpture.

The chocolate sculpture of a nude Jesus is being held in a secret location, but it could have a new home soon.

The artist who created "My Sweet Lord" said he's gotten offers from around the world to buy or exhibit the controversial figure booted from a Manhattan gallery.

"I've got thousands of e-mails of help and donations, people who want to support it, give money, even offer exhibition space, from Holland to Japan," Cosimo Cavallaro said yesterday.

"It's quite amazing."

While Cavallaro weighed the offers, the uproar over his work was causing problems for a fellow artist who also carves religious figures out of chocolate.

George Heslop displayed a chocolate Jesus on a crucifix in his native England last year and was hoping to reprise the show in the U.S.

"Now I'm having second thoughts," he said.

Cavallaro's 200-pound sculpture was supposed to be shown at the Lab Gallery in the Roger Smith Hotel on E. 47th St. during Holy Week.

But a Daily News story about the work - which presents Christ with his arms outstretched and without a loincloth - sparked complaints from some Catholics, and the hotel pulled the plug.

Now the dark chocolate figure is in a refrigerated truck in a secret location, living a "gypsy" existence "going around and trying to find a home," Cavallaro said.

"I don't want to disclose the location because of people, some people who are fanatics," he said, adding that he's received threats.

When Heslop exhibited his life-size Jesus last year, it also ignited a firestorm, but the show went on.

He now lives in Arizona and expected to submit applications to show the sculpture to U.S. galleries - a plan he is rethinking.

"I probably won't send it now," he said.

"Obviously the U.K. and America are very, very different," he said.

npesce@nydailynews.com
Related Articles

*
satan666
Apr 2, 2007 10:43:10 PM

When are we going to put a stop to the Catholic church and their threats. I am so sick and tired of them trying to stop whatever it is that they do not agree with this is a free country and we sending so many of our young people to die in yet another religious war. When are we going to see the stupidity in our lives and how it is slowly going to destroy us. The Catholic church let how many of its so called leaders rape and abuse young men and then they paid off their stupid parents and they have the gall to tell me that I cant look at a sculpture of jesus made of chocolate? What is wrong with you idiots? Dot you care about your children and you rights? This is a free country and that is what we are fighting for right now so you can have your stupid religion and and believe what ever is programed into what is left of your brain. I am working on putting a stop to this once and for all the number of Americans that are simply sick of this is growing by the numbers we will not seat and le
*
daber35
Apr 2, 2007 9:15:40 PM

You know what? I'm just going to start selling chocolate Mohammed and Moses...See if anyone would buy them. It's that simple.
*
ysmwph
Apr 2, 2007 7:59:13 PM

This message is for Island Hal who seems to have stored up quite a bit of hostility towards Christianity. Well, Hal, admit it. Much as you say you might like the idea, there is NO WAY a nude depiction of Moses would be put on display on Passover without hearing cries of "Nazi," anti-Semitism, and probably the whole of Borough Park filing a class action law suit for emotional distress. Also, Hal, take another look the rabbis who have been accused of child molestation. One of the latest fled to - guess where - Israel, which refuses to extradite him. As for freedom for artists - well I remember one man who tried to get into the Brooklyn Museum with a painting of Rabbi Schneerson with donkey's ears and he was arrested before he got to the door. Freedom? For whom? - And this hatred for St. Patrick's Cathedral! Hmmmm. My friend's husband, an Irish Catholic, went to his Jewish dentist the day after September 11, 2001, and the dentist made a wisecrack that the terrorists were really aiming at
*
donna salazar
Apr 2, 2007 5:39:46 PM

Are there no Tom Waits fans over at the Daily News? His Mule Variations album has a song entitled "Chocolate Jesus". The words: ( I ) don't go to church on Sunday Don't get on my knees to pray Don't memorize the books of the Bible I got my own special way But I know Jesus loves me maybe just a little bit more I fall down on my knees every Sunday At Zerelda Lee's candy store Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus Make me feel good inside Got to be a chocolate Jesus Keep me satisfied Well I don't want no Abba Zabba Don't want no Almond Joy There ain't nothing better suitable for this boy Well it's the only thing that can pick me up Better than a cup of gold See only a chocolate Jesus can satisfy my soul When the weather gets rough and it's whiskey in the shade it's best to wrap your savior up in cellophane He flows like the big muddy but that's ok Pour him over ice cream for a nice parfait Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus good enough for me
*