In The Eye of the Beholder ~ by Jill Halliday
I have the good fortune of owning a sculpture by Sue Adams. It is a study of a winged nude male torso on metal wheels, and is seated upon a three foot iron stand. It was purchased in the year 2000 for a room in my home that showcased it beautifully. The room was large, full of light, and Sue’s work could be viewed from all angles. Lovely that.
One fine day, a visitor and her six year old son came to my home. The young boy, upon spotting the naked, winged nude torso in the room, rushed straight to it, boots still on, (him, not the sculpture) ……halting full stop right in front of it, his wee height putting his eyes precisely at willie height And there he stood. Him staring at it,…… it, staring at him as he shouted “Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy! MUMMY! LOOK! MUMMYEEE!
Well. “Mummy” was already in mid air after having launched herself between child and the offending object, as though it were a creepy Mr. McCreepy pants man flashing her kid at the schoolyard, in an effort to shield his eyes from the offending object. Her desperate “NOOOOOO!”could be heard for miles, so naturally, I rushed over to see what had happened!
Art.
Art had happened.
I'm still apologizing to her about her male child seeing a male torso. Aren’t we a funny bunch.