Chocolate Jesus show canceled
Friday, March 30, 2007 at 3:39 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) - A New York art gallery has canceled a showing of a six-foot nude sculpture of Jesus made from chocolate. The gallery's creative director resigned because of the cancellation.
The display of what was called "My Sweet Lord" enraged Catholics, including Cardinal Edward Egan. The gallery and the hotel where it's located in midtown Manhattan were flooded with angry calls and e-mails. Some death threats were also made.
The sculpture was supposed to debut Monday night, and remain open through Easter Sunday. Artist Cosimo Cavallaro is said to be disappointed by the cancellation. He's known for working with food. He once sprayed five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home, and draped 312 pounds of ham on a four-poster bed.
His chocolate Jesus features Jesus with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical portrayals of Christ, this one doesn't include a loincloth.
