Thanks to ACLU of Texas attorneys and a brave art gallery owner who stood up to authorities, the city of Pilot Point, TX has decided to let Eve be portrayed in their town as God first created her from Adam's rib in the Garden of Eden -- with her breasts exposed.
The city of Pilot Point reached a settlement allowing the artwork be displayed in its original form, avoiding a legal debate over whether an artistic portrayal of a religious scene constituted "pornography." Reported the Denton-Record Chronicle (Oct. 15):
The decision was spurred by growing legal fees and a feeling that winning the case was unlikely, Mr. Alford said.
The city's legal fees were about $25,000, Mr. Alford said.
Mr. Miller's lawsuit alleged that the city violated his First Amendment right to freedom of expression by threatening him in 2003 with prosecution under a criminal statute "aimed at those who would victimize children by selling or displaying to them hard-core pornography."
Justine Wollaston, the local artist who painted the mural, said she's glad there's finally an end in sight, though she preferred that the suit went to court.
"It has been a long time. The thing is that we've gone so far toward a judgment, in a way it's disappointing to not have a definitive answer," she said. "But I'm thrilled to unveil her. They realized that they were unjustified and they were wasting the taxpayers' money. It was a triumph for the painting."
Via the Liberty Blog.
