This will be a story told in 4 photographs. An alert and not particularly happy resident of our fine community stopped by my house Saturday morning with some pictures related to the creche (or nativity scene if you prefer) currently set up in the park at Kersting Court. The complaint being the inclusion of a bright pink cow.
Picture 1: This was taken in 2008, before the deed was done. If you look to the lower right, you will see the cow in question, seated placidly behind the long nose of one of the camels. It is a very traditional look for this kind of statuary, and how our cow had appeared for quite sometime.
Picture 2: We now flash forward to Sierra Madre's2012 4th of July Parade. This was the part of that event belonging to the Friends of the Arts. You can see what appears to be our cow from the 2008 creche, but looking decidedly different. She has been painted shocking pink, with her horns now a shining gold. To me this depiction is reminiscent of the Biblical tale of Moses and the Golden Calf.
Picture 3: Situated behind the cow from our community creche were signs that asked us to "think pink cow." I do not know what was actually meant by this. Maybe it's an absurdist art statement? Having gone to a state university, I kind of get that. Certainly it does have a derivative Ubu Roi sort of feel.
Picture 4: This photo was taken just last Friday. It shows our pink cow back in the creche and awaiting the arrival of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, it is still painted prison holding cell pink, and now wears false oversized eyelashes as well. Making her look like a bit of a tramp.
So here are my observations. I hope that this was not intended to be some sort of misguided mockery of Sierra Madre's traditional Christmas Nativity Scene. The manger scene has deep religious significance for many in our town. Last evening the Candlelight Walk took place, and many of this community's most devout Christians solemnly marched down Baldwin Avenue and to this very site.
I am not certain that having a tarted up pink painted version of our once traditional creche cow in this year's Nativity Scene is quite what those who participated in the walk would have hoped to see when they arrived.
Perhaps there is an intended message in this somewhere. If so, I am sure that in its proper place this could be discussed and perhaps even appreciated. I understand that. But I don't think Sierra Madre's Christmas Creche in Kersting Court is that place.
It also makes me wonder what has become of this town. We seem to be careening out of control lately.
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