Thirty years ago he called it a work of art. But New York City dog lovers call it outright murder and they don’t want his artwork being shown.
Sculptor Tom Otterness, is well-known in some art circles, but he does have a dark, disturbing history. In his “Shot Dog Film,” which was made in 1977, Ottnerness shows a small black and white shelter dog that he personally chained and shot. The film shows the agonizing death in a despicable act of animal cruelty.
Humane activists and animal lovers contend Otterness, a Kansas, Missouri native, filmed it as “art,” and it paints a sinister picture: the shooting of the dog was not an accident, but one resembling a Jeffrey Dahmer-type act.
Otterness has now been commissioned by an unnamed donor to the tune of $750,000 to build lion and cub statues for the Battery Park City branch of the New York City Public Library
Otterness has since apologized, and issued the following statement:
“In 1977, I was a young artist having a very rough time. I had anger at myself and at the world. What I did was symbolic of how I was feeling internally and it is something I would never do today. I have struggled with my action for 30 years and continue to do so to this day. I am very sorry.”
He also stated it was “really inexcusable to take a life…”
The Community Board for the New York Library has approved his commission, but there continues to be a substantial show of public outrage.
Sorry or not, they couldn’t find ANY other artist ???
So, this artist by being hired by the library is going to be the example to all people that-you can do despicable things and still be “admired” and given great jobs? Why not give that job to an unknown artist who actually cares about animals?
If he was “angry at myself…”. he should have shot himself!
You know, if that was conducive to how he was feeling, he should have shot himself and filmed it for art – NOT the dog!!!
Hey, I wonder how may animals will be shot for these pieces of art!
He should have been banned long time ago for any of his artwork to be displayed ever again..!!! Make him work in an animal shelter for the rest of his life, and maybe do dog paintings with all proceeds going to a dog shelter
First response, I don’t even much like his work. Second response, i’m glad that he has remorse, etc., but can an act of deliberate cruelty be forgotten when it comes to the public sphere? My answer is no. He can exhibit privately to whomsoever wants to view his work (as long as he isn’t harming animals), but I think he forfeited the right to have an public honor when he chose to CHAIN AND SHOOT a poor little dog that had no way out.
I am very willing to produce a dog friendly artwork that would be one hell of a lot better than anything this scum could ever produce. I’d donate some of the $750,000 to help dogs too, I think if this guy is anyway sorry for what he did he should donate it all.
And the Nazis said lamp shades made of human skin was art too…
IN THE NAME OF ART, I DEPLORE YOU!!!
i am very upset that his work is going into a library in any city or town of the states I for one think he should be burned and he should be baned from every showing his art anywhere ever again this man is a sick o and their is not way the “I SORRY ” should get him out of what he did he murder this animal for money how sick can u get
When it comes to his art, it’s not even that good. I’ve no idea why people keep commissioning this man, especially in light of what he did to that poor shelter dog. I’d like to think what goes around comes around.
I can’t believe that this ‘person’ considers his work art when he intentionally kills an animal and lets it suffer. I don’t care how many times he has apologized!! He must have a ‘stay out of jail’ card. Normal people would not keep commissioning him to do anything and I think they definitely should NEVER have him involved in any project which includes animal art!!!
If he is so sorry- he should take his $750,000 and donate it to the ASPCA- POS
The only thing he is sorry for is that he is known as a dog murderer because it hurts business, but as far as the act itself, I’m sure he enjoyed every minute of it and wishes it was a different world wherein he could indulge in his murderous fantasies every day….What he would really like is to slowly torture human beings to death, if, alas, there weren’t laws against murder….
I am embarassed to live in a society that judges and condemns people for something they did over thirty years ago, when most of us weren’t even alive yet. Who do you people think you are? God?
I was thinking pretty much the same thing. Far too many “animal lovers” are sociopaths of the worst stripe, and that makes me very sad.
He should have been shot too and suffer an agoniying death right after it was found out about his “piece of art”…
First, I’d like to applaud you on the creative use of screen name, ha! Second, what does “…thirty years ago, when most of us weren’t even alive yet” even mean? Laughable in itself!! I’ve heard this statement numerous times (once is too many) from the “younger generation”; I am 40, so does that mean I don’t have to know or learn about anything before I was even born? PLEASE!!! Third, I’m not sure I saw anyone claim to be “GOD” in any of these posts. Are you so above GOD that you’re trying to imply that you have never judged anyone or anything? Once again, PLEASE!!!! So, I’m going to assume that if someone shot and killed a family member that you do not believe in our criminal justice system? That you would just forgive them and pray for them….PLEASE!!!! I’m done with you now. Thank you!
First, I’d like to applaud you on the creative use of screen name, ha! Second, what does “…thirty years ago, when most of us weren’t even alive yet” even mean? Laughable in itself!! I’ve heard this statement numerous times (once is too many) from the “younger generation”; I am 40, so does that mean I don’t have to know or learn about anything before I was even born? PLEASE!!! Third, I’m not sure I saw anyone claim to be “GOD” in any of these posts. Are you so above GOD that you’re trying to imply that you have never judged anyone or anything? Once again, PLEASE!!!! So, I’m going to assume that if someone shot and killed a family member that you do not believe in our criminal justice system? That you would just forgive them and pray for them….PLEASE!!!! I’m done with you now. Thank you!
One of the MAJOR problems in society today is the total lack of empathy–no matter if it’s animal or human. Can you not put yourself into the shoes of someone who does have feelings and see the sickness of what this so-called artist did to a living being? Possibly you can’t because you haven’t got it in you to feel for anything or anyone that isn’t you. Who do you think YOU are? No one mentioned the ‘G’ word until you… I don’t think I’m God because that is just absurd. I don’t believe in God because of all the horrific things that happen around the globe, and I think that if there was a God things like what this pathetic artist did would not happen. I believe in nature and sentient beings. BTW are you aware of the fact that humans are animals? @Juddmela: Nice!
meh, people who kill other humans get off (and out of jail) faster than 30 years yet nobody is screaming. tell my dead sister your stupid puppy woes.
What this “man” did is reprehensible!! Yes….30 years is a long time to think about what you have done wrong. And yes…. people deserve forgiveness!! And no…. his art is not very classy looking!! And no….the people that remember this horrible act should not have to deal with this!! So what is the answer??
This man should have been convicted of animal cruelty. He is a sociopath. Bull***t to his “sorry” remarks. Anyone who can kill a beautiful defenseless animal like that has no guilty conscience. ‘I am so sorry I killed a defenseless, harmless beautiful form of life”. I don’t care what age you are, it’s not a normal way of thinking. Something is wrong with him and he should have a criminal record for what he did. It’s not art…that’s just his excuse. He should not be given any type of prestigious project, especially since it doesn’t appear that he had to pay any consequences for his action. ANOTHER COMPETENT SCULPTOR SHOULD BE GIVEN THIS COMMISSION…DO NOT REWARD THIS MAN! I am sure some other sculptor would do a fine job. As for the people that chose him for this NY Library project, what were you thinking??.
IF he is stillI hired for this project, I agree with the comment above that he should donate his commission fees to the ASPCA.
PLEASE DO NOT REWARD HIM FOR HIS PAST ABOMINABLE ACTIONS.
It doesn’t matter if it was 30 years ago – he is STILL a piece of s**t who should have did the world a favor and shot himself instead….instead of a garbage “I’m sorry” statement he should try to redeem his sorry ass and donate every single penny he makes to animal shelters….there are so many animal loving artists out there….society is sick….hope his sculptures get trashed!!
They could always give the job to Michael Vick. Same general effect.
Seriously though, with how people feel about this, it is likely to get vandalized if they go through with the project. It will probably be a waste of money, and they will have to start over with another artist anyway. They may want to rethink their decision.
what he did 30 years ago was a terrible thing i only hope that he feels remorse like he states and tries to make life better now for shelter animals, we do have to forgive some time and wouldn’t it be terrible to be punished for the rest of your life for what you did 30 years ago, it was a very sad and sick thing to do but he does sound sorry for his actions