4/04/2011

Gauguin Attacked

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The Huffington Post reports on the Paul Gauguin at the National Gallery in Washington DC which was pounded upon by a woman who claimed the painting, Two Tahitian Women, was evil. The painting is on load to the National Gallery from the NY Metropolitan Museum. The article states the painting has an estimated value of $80 million. The woman is being charged with attempted second-degree theft and destruction of property.Luckily the painting had protective transparent plastic shield, and damage is believed to be minimal, if any is found at all. The National Gallery said it was the first time someone attempted to damage a painting since the 1970s.

The Huffington Post reports

he painting depicts two women standing next to each other, one with both breasts exposed and the other with one breast showing.

According to charging documents, an investigator told Burns her rights and asked why she had tried to remove the painting.

"I feel that Gauguin is evil. He has nudity and is bad for the children. He has two women in the painting and it's very homosexual. I was trying to remove it. I think it should be burned," according to the documents.

Burns also said: "I am from the American CIA and I have a radio in my head. I am going to kill you."

Burns' attorney, Sharon Weathers, declined to comment Monday.

Burns approached the painting around 4:45 p.m. Friday, grabbed the frame and pulled the bottom part off the wall, causing screws to fall to the floor, according to the documents. She then began banging on the middle of the painting with her fist.
To read the Huff Post article, click HERE.

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