Fox News | Boston 11/26/12
FOX News – A painting that features President Obama posed as Jesus Christ crucified on a cross is on display at a community college art gallery in Boston.
The painting by Michael D’Antuono is part of a larger exhibit called “Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012.” It’s on display at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery until Dec. 15th.
The painting is called “Truth” – and shows the president on the cross with his arms outstretched. A crown of thorns rests on his head.
It was originally supposed to debut nearly four years ago at New York City’s Union Square. But that event was cancelled due to public outrage.
“I always regretted cancelling my exhibit in New York because I feel my First Amendment rights should override someone’s hurt feelings,” D’Antuono told Fox News. “We should celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we are given the freedom to express ourselves.”
A spokesperson for the art gallery told Fox News there hasn’t been any criticism of the painting.
D’Antuono said the public exhibition “has afforded me the ability to right a wrong.”
He dismissed critics who called the display blasphemous.
“The crucifixion of the president was meant metaphorically,” he told Fox News. “My intent was not to compare him to Jesus.”
D’Antuono blamed the controversy on conservative media “trying to promote the idea that liberals believe the president to literally be our savior.”
In the aftermath of his aborted first attempt – the artist said he received more than 4,000 emails containing messages that were “anything but Christian-like.”
“But I accepted that it is their right to express themselves and hope that they now see it in their hearts to afford me the same right,” he said.