Phallic sculptor strikes again, but city strikes back

November 26, 2013

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/phallic-sculptor-strikes-again-but-city-strikes-back-1.2439900

There won't be any more shrubs trimmed into phallic symbols in a small plot of land near the Windsor Sculpture Garden.

John Miceli, Windsor's director of parks and facilities, said the city was made aware of the latest prank on Thursday.

"Someone placed the letters 'penis' at that site," said Miceli.

Miceli believes the vandal used garland to make the letters. The city reacted immediately, removing the offending letters, and pulling out nearby shrubs.

In October, in two separate incidents, shrubs in the garden plot were turned into phallic shapes by unknown people.

Both times the city moved quickly to re-shape the shrubs, even though they were attracting a lot of attention.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late night talk show, featured the bushes twice.

"It's always a shame when governments repress artistic expression," Kimmel said on his ABC late night show after the second penis bush was discovered and re-shaped.

At the time, Miceli found some humour in the situation.

"The sculpture garden is getting all kinds of attention, and the bushes in the sculpture garden are getting all kinds of attention," he said in late October. "It's a good thing. Hopefully people will visit our sculpture garden more often and take a look for yourself."

However, writing the word 'penis' onto the garden took the joke too far.

"It's language we really don't want to see on the riverfront," he said. "Unfortunately some people are taking it to a whole other level. We just want to deter people from doing that kind of stuff."