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Objections raised over student's Christ image
Geri Koeppel
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 27, 2005 12:00 AM
A student at Mountain Pointe High School found out first-hand this month that art has the power to ignite passions and debate.
Erika Vogt-Nilsen, 17, stirred controversy at the school's Winter Art Show with a digitally manipulated photograph showing a sinister-looking puppeteer with strings attached to an image of a crucified Christ.
A teacher and six students who thought it mocked Christianity expressed their displeasure to the administration after the show came down. Then the teacher sent a letter to local newspapers objecting to the work. advertisement
School administrators, however, came to her defense.
"I think this is a good experience because I can see sometimes how artists are treated," Vogt-Nilsen said.
The Ahwatukee teen also discovered that not all viewers see the same meaning in a piece of art. She said people have shared at least eight different interpretations of the piece, from positive to negative.
"From the Christian world view, this is the ultimate sacrilege," said Mountain Pointe physics teacher Philip Moon who objected to her artwork. "Whether she intended it or not, it means God is dangling at the hands of man."
Another viewer saw it as man's manipulation of the sacred figure of Christ for corrupt earthly reasons.
The Ahwatukee Foothills artist won't say what she had in mind when she created the work, but said she didn't intend to offend anyone. She said it's not correct to compare her to artists like Robert Mapplethorpe or Andres Serrano who have inflamed public sentiment.
"I'm not out there just to shock," Vogt-Nilsen said.
She did some soul-searching before entering the photograph in the show, and asked teachers and friends with strong religious views for their input.
Mountain Pointe vice principal Bruce Kipper said Vogt-Nilsen's work didn't violate district policy regarding separation of church and state.
"We have to allow our students to express themselves, albeit within certain guidelines," he said.
Works are assessed on a case-by-case basis, he said. Something with blatant nudity or vulgarity might be inappropriate, but this work wasn't deemed out of bounds.
Moon disagreed: "It has absolutely no place in the high school setting. Do I think it should have been banned? Absolutely."
The judges, however, rewarded the piece. Vogt-Nilsen won an honorable mention for it, along with two first-place ribbons, a third-place ribbon and a second honorable mention.
None of her other works had an overtly religious theme. One first-place finisher was a photograph of her two cats, Whiskers and Max.Another winner was a self-portrait done in colored pencil.
Vogt-Nilsen is talented in several media. She has worked in stained glass, silk painting, pencil drawings, embossed copper, ceramics, watercolors and more.
The straight-A student is going to Arizona State University next fall on an academic scholarship.
She intends to major in graphic art with a minor in advertising or marketing.
"I can't stand when people goof off," she said. "I'm a hard worker. I really do like to learn."
Dennis
