US teacher's adstract art upsets authorities
THIS high school art teacher put his heart into his art. And also his private parts.
He creates floral and abstract artworks by smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them onto the canvas.
These images taken off a YouTube video clip shows Mr Stephen Murmer painting with his posterior.
Mr Stephen Murmer of Richmond, Virginia, was suspended when school authorities raised objections about his unorthodox artwork.
He contacted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)last week, about his suspension for five days with pay and possibility of further punishment pending investigations.
A spokesman of the Monacan High School said, Ms Debra Marlow confirmed that a Monacan art teacher had been placed on administrative leave.
Ms Marlow said: 'In the school system, personnel regulations state that teachers are expected to set an example for students through their personal conduct. The Supreme Court has stated that teachers, like parents, are role models.'
Mr Murmer defended himself, saying he had constitutional rights as a public employee.
The art teacher said that he started using his butt to create art a few years ago.
Once, during a class painting assignnment, he was asked to find an organic item to use as a stamp and decided to use his posterior. His artwork was a hit with the class and he continued to paint in that manner after that.
Mr Murmer, described by students as a funny and likeable teacher, kept his life as an artist secret and separate from his school activities.
As an artist, he goes by the name of 'Stan Murmur' and donned a disguise when promoting his art in the media.
In a clip from an old TV talk show, available on YouTube.com, Mr Murmer wore a fake nose and glasses, a towel on his head, a black thong - and nothing else.
In response to questions about his disguise, Mr Murmer said: 'I do have a real job, real clients. I don't think they'd be too understanding if I was also the guy who painted with my ass.'
Students at the Monacan High were amused by the YouTube clip and described his suspension as 'stupid' and 'ignorant'.
According to Ms Heather Thomson, a senior who worked with the suspended teacher in the art club: 'There is little support among the student body for his suspension. It was simply him expressing himself and his art, and it had nothing to do with school - he wasn't advertising,' Ms Thomson said.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...19940,00.html? 
Suspended for his butt paintings 
Linear Mode
