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Two women artists from Orange County, in Southern California, were inspired to start The Nipple Project initially by the release of the IPEX bra by Victoria Secret. Advertisements for this bra espoused quite blatantly that it provides “maximum nipple coverage!” This bra epitomizes the eradication and androgenization of the nipple. They found this ironic in an era where breast augmentation is done in order to gain a “more feminine look.” So, through this project they set out to reclaim their natural femininity and counter this strange phenomenon.

They posted a “call to artists” to submit their “nipple” interpretations. Those contributions (about 200 altogether,) from women and men, were assembled and put on exhibit at the Orange County Center for Contemporaty Art in Santa Ana, California. The exhibit opened on June 5, and closes June 28.

I submitted two nipple creations, one constructed out of recycled tin, and the other carved from wood. Both are “larger” than lifesize.

Here are some views from the exhibit:

My contributions are shown in the center, on the white pedestal.

And up close:

These are about 7″ across, wood on left, and tin on right.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have got to end. Too many lives, soldiers and civilians, from all sides of the conflicts, have been sacrificed.

As an artist and sculptor I need to make a statement, and so I decided to create a Cross of Sacrifice that I have put in my front yard, with an explanatory sheet (see: the_cross_of_sacrifice.pdf) posted nearby. This is meant to be a non-denominational TRIBUTE to all souls who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Cross & the Information Sheet in my front yard in Portland, Oregon

The Cross: 8 feet 6 inches tall