Chocolate Jesus Gets Melted

Holy Week Exhibit is Canceled Amid Protest.

A New York exhibit of chocolate Jesus has been scratched. Angry Catholics have pressured the hotel that houses Lab Gallery into shutting the exhibit down before its debut

The display called, "My Sweet Lord" was created by noted food artist Cossimo Cavalloro. He is himself a practicing Catholic. "My Sweet Jesus" was created from 200 pounds of milk chocolate. The hotel was forced to pull it's support of the sculpture after numerous death threats via email and phone. Cravallaro and his wife are currently in hiding because they fear for their safety.

The artwork shows Jesus with outreached arms on a imaginary cross. Unlike traditional portrayals of Christ this work does not feature a loincloth. Protesters are outraged that Jesus was created in chocolate and shows genitalia.

Catholic League Head, Bill Donohue called the piece, "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever. It's not just the ugliness of the portrayal but the timing-to choose Holy Week is astounding." The Catholic League is a watchdog group that protects the interests of Roman Catholic Christians.

The exhibit was set to debut the day after Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday starts Holy Week which commemorates the crucification of the Christian messiah, Jesus Christ. Currently the confection is in a refrigerated truck somewhere in New York. Cavalloro has hopes that it will find a new home.

Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director, submitted his resignation over the controversy.

Semler said, "In this situation the hotel couldn't continue to be supportive because of a fear for safety."

According to Semler people have taken the intention of the exhibit wrong. He says the piece was the victim of "strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing. They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions."

Cavallaro's previous efforts include spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home and painting a Manhattan hotel in melted cheese.

Sources

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