ATTENTION-GRABBER

Painting of Obama as Crucified Christ Sparks Anger

The artist maintains his 'intent was not to compare him to Jesus'

Nov 27, 2012 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

Image: Michael D'Antuono

An art student in Massachusetts is attracting the wrath of folks offended by his painting depicting President Obama as not merely a Christ-like figure, but Christ himself.

How else to explain the crown of thorns and arms outstretched as if tacked to a cross, as The Blaze's Jason Howerton observes. Artist Michael D'Antuono dubbed the painting, which hangs at Boston's Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery, "The Truth." The name suggests that perhaps D'Antuono meant the piece to be a satirical jab at conservatives "trying to promote the idea that liberals believe the president to literally be our savior."

"The crucifixion of the president was meant metaphorically," said the artist, who's received thousands of angry emails. "My intent was not to compare him to Jesus."

Michael D'Antuono raised eyebrows earlier this year with his racially-charged painting of a tiny, Skittles-holding Trayvon Martin squaring off against a white-hooded George Zimmerman, complete with a Confederate flag in the background. One observer called the the piece "so extreme, you would almost have to assume it's self-parody."

Via The Blaze.

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?	Does D'Antuono's painting offend you?

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Comments (view in Forum)

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Nov '12

Republican5001

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No it is not offensive.
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Nov '12

Republican5001

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As soon as the article mentioned Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, I knew to discount any validity to alledged artist actually having talent.
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Post @Republican5001
Nov '12

CanisCanemEdit

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@Republican5001 - Meh. I put it on par with the famous "Crucifix in Urine" and the "Feces Covered Madonna".

Hmmmmm.....

...now I wonder what the reaction would be if someone took the Crucified Obama image and covered it in feces or sank it in urine?
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Post @CanisCanemEdit
Nov '12

martydotcom

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Ho hum another bad top story selection. Can't the collective genuii editors come of with something relevant?
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Nov '12
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Nov '12

mimi57

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Yes.
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Nov '12

PNWest

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Then you really won't like this:
http://politicalirony.com/wp-content/uploads/...
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Post @PNWest
Nov '12

mimi57

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@PNWest Not true, I just don't like it whenever Christ is either blasphemed or His image is portrayed
as something other than it was meant to be..I believe it was Jesus who was crucified on the Cross, doesn't matter who the painting was of ,or of what political figure it was meant to represent...Christ was crucified, not Mr. Obama
or anyone else...and to my atheist friends, I'm sure you feel differently and that is your prerogative.
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Post @mimi57
Nov '12

MBernard

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@mimi57 Loll, "Christ was crucified, no Mr. Obama or anyone else" yeah?? I can count a few other ppl who was crucified. It was an archaic practice and millions were crucified then, Even, two more was crucified along Christ. Later, even some disciples were crucified.
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Nov '12

Jasonopolis

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@MBernard Speak English, man.
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Nov '12

MBernard

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@Jasonopolis loll I am writing too fast man I am at work damn
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Nov '12

KyleMFb

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It's doesn't offend me but its a stupid painting
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Nov '12

AceLuby

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No, it doesn't offend me. It's satire.
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Nov '12

LGRepublican

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Well, we have Jamie Foxx calling him "Our Lord and Savior" so why not finish the job of making him a living deity.....

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/20...
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Nov '12

CanisCanemEdit

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Hmmmm. That would conflict with Madonna's view of Obama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch...

"We Have A Black Muslim In The White House"

Yeah...I know. Madonna fans say she was being satirical.

Or was she?
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Post @CanisCanemEdit
Nov '12

Jean

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Yes. Defintely offensive to our Lord and Savior to compare him to ANY man.
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Nov '12

Neo_NtheMatrix

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Especially that particular man.
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Nov '12

Souljah

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@Neo_NtheMatrix Especially ^^^that particular man
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Post @Souljah
Nov '12

NormalFlora

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Bacchus is my Lord and Savior!!! You insult The Lord my God!!!!! Blasphemer!!! Filthy sober HEATHEN!!!!!!!!
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Nov '12

Cool_voter

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Jean, your profile picture is blasphemous.
To think Jesus was white, HAHA!
He was most likely a black Arab, considering where he came from and the people living there at that time.
Worshiping a white guy is worshiping a false idol.
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Post @Cool_voter
Nov '12

Jean

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@Cool_voter

I worship God. the Crucifixes are like having a picture of the one you love with you. we do not worship the picture....we worship the God the Crucifix represents.

http://www.catholicbible101.com/thetencommand...

http://www.catholicbible101.com/whennoncathol...

http://www.catholicbible101.com/catholicprote...

http://www.catholicbible101.com/becomingacath...
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Post @Jean
Nov '12

DerivePI

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Joseph Goebbels would be proud.
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Nov '12

jessejaymes

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Well ya know, when I played guitar in metal bands I was no more religious then than I am today. We knew what this artist knew however. If you want to get known piss off the right wing. We wore armbands with pentagrams. We "worshipped the devil". Not a single one of us worshiped any god in reality. But we got the Bible Thumpers worked up everywhere we played. Our posters around town ensured that. And when the Bible Thumpers are worked up they will be your best publicity because they won't shut up about you. And naturally the bar crowd wants anything the Bible Thumpers don't want. Sex, Drugs, Rock and roll. Worked for us for a long time. I'm sure it's working for this artist. Formula fame. Piss off the Thumpers and they'll make you famous. LOL
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Nov '12

Keyjo

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LOL....That's great!
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Post @Keyjo
Nov '12

Keyjo

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Hey, what band did you play in?
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Post @Keyjo
Nov '12

jessejaymes

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@Keyjo That would be narrowing down who I am more than I chose to tell. LOL Not important. I'm a nobody. just an old man today.
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Nov '12

PNWest

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@jessejaymes Happy birthday Jimi!
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Nov '12

mtkopf

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With that type of ingenuity, maybe you should run for Congress. I'd vote for you twice( like a true Chicagoan).
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Nov '12

Thegrif

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Beyond all doubt it insinuates a most absurd idea, Obama as Christ like, please. He has talked plenty and has done nothing.
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Nov '12

dances-weebles

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not really... it's portraying the fact that people are trying to crucify mr. obama needlessly. that's all.
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Post @dances-weebles
Nov '12

Thegrif

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@dances-weebles needlessly in your opinion and perhaps the artist.
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Nov '12

twinertia

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Hey, it's art. Love it or shove it.
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Nov '12
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Nov '12

KoolD

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Anything with the Idiot Obama is offensive. Lying D-bag. His name is stnkin offensive and the fact he is supposedly a president. Would not walk across the street for this moron. How is that for offensive. Just freedom of speech, get over it or under it.
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Nov '12

Keyjo

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Hey, can't say you don't get plenty of exercising your 1st. Amendment rights.
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Nov '12

Cheenoguy

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He isn't "supposedly A president". He IS THE president.
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Nov '12

Keyjo

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I don't personally find it offensive.
I have a picture of a surf boy being crucified in a similar manner, nailed to his surfboard.
Artists strive to make people think, and that's what good art does. Some people think and get angry! Some people DON'T think and STILL get angry.
So what, some people are still offended by Michelangelo's "David."

http://www.youtube.com/watch...
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Nov '12

MongoAPillager

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these people are not artists,they are just the Howard sterns of the progressive "art world"anything that will get them in the spotlight
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Nov '12

Keyjo

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@MongoAPillager
Ah, an art critic. Eye and mind of the beholder, my friend.
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Nov '12

MongoAPillager

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@Ortho I will give you that one personally might find it work of art,but I would be willing to bet that said artist does not consider this art himself,he just wants the attention
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Nov '12

Bobolinsky

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No. But I wonder if this artist is willing to depict President Obama as Muhammed?
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Nov '12

DARSB

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I always wonder how anyone can tell an image looks like the Prophet. It isn't like there are surviving paintings of him, after all, and Instagram hadn't been invented yet. :-)
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Post @DARSB
Nov '12

Bobolinsky

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There's another Obama art piece out there and it could be yours!

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/you-wont-beli...
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Nov '12

whataGOVwehave

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Nope.....but I see where some could be offended.
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Nov '12

Thunderchicken

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Fifteen minutes of fame. Nothing more.
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Nov '12

Thunderchicken

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After studying the painting, fifteen minutes is generous. He’s not very good.

Now this is a good watercolor.

http://www.artbrokerage.com/artist/Michael-At...
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Post @Thunderchicken
Nov '12

Denizen_Kate

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@Thunderchicken - That is a lovely painting. Thank you for sharing.
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Post @Denizen_Kate
Nov '12

Thunderchicken

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@Denizen_Kate

You're welcome. And it's only $3400! Atkinson's one of the few artists that my wife will allow his prints in the house.
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Nov '12

Quantummist

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Nope... I like accuracy in art....
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Nov '12

azumi

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I find that to be really offensive.
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Nov '12

Neo_NtheMatrix

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You're not alone in being offended.
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Nov '12

RobertJHarsh

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I thought Steve Jobs was the real Jesus?
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Nov '12

Fishbone345

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Tacky. But, most art is. Personally I like Renaissance pieces.
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Nov '12

woodtick57

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How is referencing myths offensive? ;would someone be offended if an artist referenced the Easter bunny?
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Nov '12

jessejaymes

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Bingo.
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Post @jessejaymes
Nov '12

mimi57

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Let's just say you would have over 340 billion Christians who would disagree with you...
Christians believe Christ lived and lives today, so to them, he's no Easter Bunny or
other 'fictional' character..and when we all die, and we all will, even those who have the
strongest doubts or hatred, will soon find out...
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Nov '12

DARSB

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@mimi57 "340 billion Christians" is roughly 48 times the number of humans on the planet.
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Nov '12

mimi57

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@DARSB Sorry, I meant 2. 40 billion...I thought that sounded like an awful lot. Thanks ( :
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Nov '12
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Does D'Antuono's painting offend you?