Recently a couple of Florida parental residents filed complaints against a fifth grade art teacher that did a lesson on Michael Angelo’s David sculpture. Their grip was that they felt they should have been notified in advance that their child would be exposed to the nudity of David, which apparently they considered pornography. The principal of the school resigned as the result of this incident.

I’d say, “That’s one toke over the line, sweet Jesus.” The controversy as to whether or not exposing the human genitals in art is OK or taboo is nothing new. It’s been going on for centuries. Oftentimes, these reproductive organs are either left out entirely or blurred out, losing their defining shapes. I’m sorry. A non-moving piece of marble sculpture, not posed in any suggestive position, doesn’t represent to any degree porn–at least not to this artist. (If you want to define visually pornography in art take a “good” look at Picasso’s Erotic Gravures).

What I find interesting, is that when one makes attempts to “cover-up” these sexual organs in art, more interest seems to be generated as the result. People want to know what’s behind the façade. The cover-ups tend to give anything behind it a bad connotation, and that’s too bad. Especially for something that is of major importance to the proliferation of society itself.

Cover-ups are always counter productive. The Republicans (Ron DeSantis especially) are seeking to cover-up America’s mistakes that were perpetrated against our African Americans by getting rid of what they call CRT (Critical Race Theory). Black history being offered in schools is quickly becoming obsolete. All the more reason to celebrate Juneteenth. As Job once said of God, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” America must accept (and not erase) the wrongs done towards its black and Native Americans so as to not repeat its mistakes in the future–even if it steps on some white children’s toes.

In my CoverBoy painting, I simply moved David’s right arm to position itself over his genitals, so as to not offend anyone. But, in doing so, we see inquisitive eyes want to know what’s behind the “green door.” In this case, it’s a blue hand covering a blue body part. Painting David’s body blue references the lyrics in the hit song by Peter, Paul, and Mary called, I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog. White folks might take issue with the meaning behind the color, but the “times are a changing”–according to Bob Dylan. Get used to it. We all should be treated equal according to our Constitution–right? Especially so, since God is watching (depicted as ”The Space Eye of God) over everything we do on Earth to see if it was righteous or not.

.But, I think the most important message here (in my painting) is that as great an example as David was in following God’s precepts; still, he was overcome by his lusting sins of the flesh. And his trying to cover-up his adulteress relationship with Bathsheba resulted in the killing of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. Initial cover-ups almost always lead to greater sins. Of course, later in David’s life his multi-marriages and concubine relationships let David to the idolatry of worshipping foreign gods. Again, sins of the flesh led to the greater sin of idolatry.

Make no mistake, I’m not attempting to belittle King David by any means. Few can measure-up to the greatness and courage of this man “after God’s own heart.” Still, David provides an example that’s nobody’s perfect–even in the Lord(Jehovah). When Christians stumble and are less than they should be, they repent, have forgiveness in Christ Jesus, and seek to do better the next time when confronted with difficult situations.