Forever Marilyn current status: Mooning a church

Let’s check in with how things are doing with the giant Forever Marilyn statue.

While Palm Springs waits to put the statue on display in its downtown area, the 26-foot statue of Marilyn Monroe has been placed in a Stamford, Connecticut park and, as it would turn out, Marilyn’s exposed backside has been placed in direct view of the front of the First Congregational Church of Stamford.

A 26-foot statue of Marilyn Monroe went up in Stamford. Some people aren't happy about it. https://t.co/lZ5ksU0tTd pic.twitter.com/vlk20eMJnQ

— Hartford Courant (@hartfordcourant) June 8, 2018

Solid planning.

On the way home from New York I stopped in Stamford and happened to see Seward Johnson’s recently installed sculpture “Forever Marilyn”. It is controversial because it was installed across the street from a church (not looking at the church). Here is the view from the church steps. June 8, 2018. #sewardjohnson#forevermarilyn#marilynmonroe#sculpture#art#church#stamfordct#publicart#backtochurch#mommywhenarewegoingtochurchagain?

A post shared by Mark Williams (@livepaint) on Jun 8, 2018 at 5:35pm PDT

“I just find the position to be offensive,” city resident Lorri Tamburro told the Advocate (via ABC News). “It was, in my eyes, very disrespectful. I looked at it and I think because of what I saw with all these little kids looking up, the height is ruining it. It’s ruining beautiful Marilyn.”

#goodbyenormajean, a 26 foot tall #sculpture of #marilynmonroe called #forevermarilyn by #sewardjohnson on display in #stamforddowntown. #stamfordart #sevenyearitch #art #stamfordlocal #artphotography #sewardjohnsonsculptures #avontheatrefilmcenter #connecticut #newengland #connecticut_igers #publicart #connecticutigers #bigfoot #iconic #fairfieldcounty #stamfordct

A post shared by Kevin Roones (@kzone8) on Jun 8, 2018 at 9:44am PDT

But city officials say that it’s ok because art is art and everyone should just accept that it’s art.

“It is art and we don’t believe it is offensive,” said Sandy Goldstein, president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District. “We absolutely mean no disrespect to the church.”

No caption necessary.

A post shared by Liz Adams (@liztalbott) on Jun 8, 2018 at 3:02pm PDT

“The issue is, why that statue?” Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman, pastor of the First Congregational Church, said in an email to The Associated Press. “Marilyn Monroe was an artist deserving our respect. Why appropriate her image in this way. Is this the best we can do?”

(H/T Prints Charming)