DAMage Report - Dicking Around

It is ironic that overtly sexual art is frowned upon, yet human nature compels us to apply sexual associations to certain shapes in art. Phallic and vaginal symbolism in art is as old as the cave paintings. Little stick man...giant stick. Sometimes the iconic reference is intentional, sometimes not. The lastest giant phallic, titillating University of Alabama students, is a sculpture by instructor Craig Wedderspoon.  "Argyle" is part of his series of works intended to reference fabrics and textiles that some say looks oddly phallic. (It looks more like a pear to me but then maybe they grow 'em short and fat in Alabama.)

Famous phallic art includes the giant Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks by Claes Oldenburg, 
The Eiffel Tower is often considered phallic, as well as ANY public monument that is taller than it is wide. 


Famous vaginal art includes O'Keefe's flowers. Georgia O'Keefe adamantly insisted that it was not her intent to create flowers that reminded people of colorful cunts and people just read what they wanted into her art. That makes it even more fascinating to my mind.


Disguises in which the offensive and offending phallus has appeared include:

• Banana
• Horns (fertility symbol in ancient art)
• Cigar
• Gun - pistol, bazookas, cannons, spears, swords, etc. 
• Maypole
• Monument
• Obelisk
• Tower
• Lipstick
• Snakes
• Trains, cars - the faster and bigger the better
• Right side up triangle
• Generally any long, hot thrusting.... ermmm never mind.

Disguises in which the offensive and offending vulva has appeared include:

• Cup
• Rose and other flowers
• Valley
• Cave
• Heart
• Upside down triangle
• Various fruit
• Oysters
• Shells

Generally the phallic symbolism has the vulva symbol beat hands down for number of instances it appears in art. No doubt due to penis envy. What are some objects that looked phallic or vaginal to you - either in art or in real life?

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20100201/NEWS/100139933/1007/NEWS02?p=1&tc=pg

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NEA Call for artists:
Design the next NEA logo - concept theyr'e looking for is "reminder that art workers are real workers who are part of this country’s real economy.” Art workers “earn salaries, support families, [and] pay taxes,"
http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/33795/nea-launches-logo-contest/