Art Teacher Who Paints With Genitals Suspended

[matcom]

<snip>

RICHMOND, Va. -- High school art teacher Stephen Murmer wants school officials to butt out of his artwork.

He said he's been suspended by Chesterfield County, Va., school officials because of his unusual style.

Outside of class, Murmer bills himself as the "butt-printing artist." He plasters his bare backside and genitals with paint and presses them against canvas.

His cheeky abstract art and flora designs sell for hundreds of dollars each. As an artist, he goes by the name "Stan Murmur," and appears in disguise in photographs and videos promoting his art.

But Murmer is also known as a popular, joke-cracking art teacher at Monacan High School.

Chesterfield County school officials have suspended the teacher whom they said may be setting a bad example for students through his outside artistic activities.

Chesterfield County schools spokeswoman Debra Marlow said school system regulations state that teachers must set an example for students through their personal conduct.

Murmer was placed on administrative leave on Friday.

Murmer has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia for help.

The ACLU said Murmer has the constitutional right as a private citizen to paint however he chooses. The school district won't comment on the suspension because it's a personnel issue. The group said the suspension goes against Murmer's First Amendment rights.

link to YouTube Video at link:

http://www.wftv.com/education/10523713/detail.html

[Richardo]

1. ...from the ceiling? He is versatile.

:)

[Midlodemocrat]

2. You should *see* the coverage of this story down here.

:eyes:

[matcom]

3. Is the teacher Indian?

or does he do full canvass?

:hide:

[Midlodemocrat]

5. LOL. All I saw was him rubbing his butt on the canvas.

Not my taste in art, that's for sure, but hey, whatever floats your boat.

[underpants]

12. I seem to have missed it

I can only imagine.

The Times-Disgrace had an editorial yesterday about how Pinoche really wasn't all THAT bad... seriously

[Midlodemocrat]

15. I know. I saw it.

Unreal.

[Hugin]

4. So?

Now he can devote himself to his newly PRed art...

They were wrong to fire him.

[BarenakedLady]

6. Can't be any worse

Then the woman who paints with her menstrual blood. :scared:

http://spiralingmoon.livejournal.com/2004/09/06/

[Richardo]

8. Sort of a monochromatic oeuvre, no?

:shrug:

[BarenakedLady]

13. Not really

Without being too graphic, there are lots of different colors and shades. *ahem* If you are brave enough to look at the pictures, you will see that. Some of them are quite beautiful, but I just can get past the medium used.

[Hugin]

17. Ulk...

*faint*

*klunk*

[BarenakedLady]

19. You ok?

I'm sorry. Let me help you up. :rofl:

[Hugin]

22. .

Thanks...

Kinda caught me off guard there.

Although, I applaud the artist you speak of for her passion and dedication to her work. I'm personally
going to limit my media to acrylics and glass.

[Richardo]

7. 'flora designs'?

I don't want to know.

[AllegroRondo]

9. the words "genitals" and "suspended" should never be used together

:shudder:

[Hugin]

18. I was going to mention matcom's headline word choice as well...

and mention he jumped-the-shark with the Glory Hole Homeless Shelter Incident.

:D

[matcom]

21. LOL!!!

forgot about the old 'Glory Hole' :rofl:

[Hugin]

25. Teabag painting really puts the Kink in Kinkade.

So to speak.

Looks like my Christmas shopping is done for this year.

This guy have any puzzles?

[matcom]

26. not sure about puzzles but...

i hear he has his own line of bathroom candles :rofl:

[Hugin]

27. Samples...

It would seem the network demand is so high it has crashed most of the sites with Murmur's art!

:rofl:

But, here's some.

http://azoony.com/homepage.html?artist_id=206

I'm particularly drawn to:



"Laura's Hawaiian Vactation".

Nice use of colors to achieve a Hibiscus.

[Richardo]

28. .

:spray:

[trof]

24. Yeah. What did he susoend 'em with?

ouch

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

10. My wife graduated from Monacan

She's going to LOVE this :evilgrin:

[commander bunnypants]

11. only in my town

CB

[Lochloosa]

14. "abstract art and flora designs"

wonder how long the "stems" are?

:shrug:

[azmouse]

16. I wonder if that's hard to do?

[Fleshdancer]

20. gives "blue balls" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?

:rofl:

[Richardo]

23. Ba-dum-bump. Psh.