UPDATE: THE farmer ordered to remove a controversial hay bale sculpture depicting a bull serving a cow says he has received massive public support.
Bruce Cook, owner of Kactus Point Charolais stud erected the sculpture on his farm on the Murray Valley Highway at Lake Charm near Kerang as “a bit of fun.”
But after someone complained that the sculpture was offensive and obscene Mr Cook received a call from a police officer telling him he had to take it down and that he could be charged with “publishing pornographic images”.
“I couldn’t believe it. How could anyone be offended by something that happens out in the paddocks for real every day of the week?
“It’s just nature,” Mr Cook told The Weekly Times, which published a picture of the sculpture on Wednesday.
Since he built the sculpture on Good Friday, dozens of cars and trucks had stopped to admire it and have a bit of a chuckle, he said.
But a defiant Mr Cook said he refused to take it down and in fact plans to light up the sculpture at night, so it can seen for longer by passers-by.
“I told the copper to p. s off.
“They have picked on the wrong person. I don’t care what they threaten me with. The sculpture stays,” he said.
Since the furore erupted he has had lots of support from the public, but also the odd threat to burn or push the sculpture down.
Better tell the cows to stop doing the live show as well... https://t.co/AzNd71foMd
— Kathryn Hill (@pinchofgluttony) April 23, 2015He believes there is also a petition circulating in support of his art work and supporters have set up a Facebook page “We say the hay stays”.
A Weekly Times poll shows 96 per cent of people agreed the sculpture was not offensive.
But one objector, Elvie Gannon, 75, from Mystic Park said there was plenty of opposition to the sculpture.
“Half the world are telling me I’m am old fuddy duddy and the other half are saying to me ‘good on you’ for raising my concerns,” Mrs Gannon said.
“I have had a number of young people agree me with saying it’s not very nice and a bit yuck,” she said.
“We live in a farming community and of course animal breeding is all around us but this is really just a smutty joke.”
Bureaucracy gone mad "@theweeklytimes Farmer could be charged with "publishing pornographic images" for hay bale art http://t.co/fhsZEp5BqO"
— Tully Smith (@TullySmith) April 23, 2015Mr Cook said he was not angry just totally amused by the fact someone could find an arrangement of hay bales offensive.
He found it hard to believe in this day and age there could be laws preventing such a harmless bit of fun.
Mr Cook said he was going to add some calves to the sculpture very soon.
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said police were notified of a complaint about the hay bale sculpture and had spoken to all parties concerned and were currently making inquiries.
READ MORE: Any reproductions welcomed
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