More Evidence of the Approaching Apocalypse KFEDR

DrWu · April 2006

Pro-Life sculpture of Britney Spears giving birth on a bear skin rug.

A Clay Britney Stars in the Abortion Debate By COLIN MOYNIHANPublished: March 30, 2006Britney Spears is probably not the likeliest muse for a work of art promoting an anti-abortion message. Yet hard as it may be to imagine her inspiring such meditations, it is no stretch at all to imagine that a gallery show including a politically tinged likeness of Ms. Spears is apt to draw a bit of attention. That appears to be the strategy, anyway, behind a life-size clay sculpture by a 40-year-old Connecticut artist, Daniel Edwards, that depicts Ms. Spears giving birth. The sculpture, titled "Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston," depicts Ms. Spears on her knees and elbows giving birth atop a bearskin rug. It will be shown publicly at an exhibition that is opening on April 7 at Capla Kesting Fine Art gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.When asked how he chose Ms. Spears as his subject from among the thousands of women who give birth each day, Mr. Edwards said, "She's the highest profile," and added: "She was the best choice. I couldn't come up with anybody that matched her."The sculpture is meant to represent the day last September when Ms. Spears gave birth to her first son, Sean Preston Federline.For the last week or so, bloggers have been weighing in on the sculpture. Comments have ranged from disapproval to disbelief, with some calling it all a publicity ploy.An anti-abortion group whose literature will be included at the opening has backed away from the work, and the gallery holding the opening has been flooded with messages, pro and con, remarking on the sculpture.Mr. Edwards said he did not speak with Ms. Spears before creating the sculpture. Leslie Sloan Zelnik, a spokeswoman for Ms. Spears, did not return a call yesterday seeking comment.Mr. Edwards resisted characterizing himself as anti-abortion, but said he believed that life began "at conception." The sculptor said that the image of Ms. Spears giving birth was a beautiful way to present the anti-abortion message, in contrast to the grisly images like fetuses in jars that are sometimes used by anti-abortion groups.He contacted the Right to Life Committee in Manhattan to alert the group to his exhibition, and will include some of their literature at the opening.Jeanne Head, the committee's president, said, however, that she had given materials to Mr. Edwards before she knew that the "pro-life statue" was of Ms. Spears, who is known for her skimpy outfits and sometimes racy lyrics. Ms. Head said that she would say no if she was asked to endorse such a statue and that she wished Mr. Edwards had been clearer about his plans.Some supporters of the Right to Life Committee had called to complain, mistakenly believing that she was involved in the gallery show."People had issues about Britney Spears," she said. "They thought she was not a good symbol for the pro-life community."She has not been the only one to receive messages. David Kesting, one of the owners of Capla Kesting Fine Art, said the gallery had received about 5,000 phone calls and e-mail messages about the sculpture. About 80 percent of the opinions received were negative, he said, and included messages from anti-abortion campaigners who denounced the notion of using Ms. Spears as a rallying figure and from people favoring abortion rights who objected to the sculpture's being exhibited in Brooklyn. There were even messages from people who are against Caesarean births, the type that Ms. Spears underwent, he said."I'm very satisfied that Dan is receiving the attention he deserves," he said. "The work of art is creating controversy."