Teacher In Crack Over Butt Art
E/C Annie
hometown in Richmond,VA ....
annie
Teacher In Crack Over Butt Art
(AP) RICHMOND, Va. To hear the students tell it, Stephen Murmer is a
fun, popular art teacher who is always quick to crack a joke. But there
is another side to Murmer. A side that has agitated school officials
and resulted in his suspension. A side that focuses, almost entirely,
on the crack in his backside.
Outside of class and under an alter ego, the self-proclaimed
"butt-printing artist" creates floral and abstract art by plastering
his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas.
His cheeky creations sell for hundreds of dollars.
This has not gone over well with Chesterfield County school officials,
who placed Murmer on administrative leave from his job at Monacan High
School.
Murmer contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia after
he was suspended on Friday, ACLU legal director Rebecca Glenberg said.
He told Glenberg that administrators had suspended him with pay for
five days because of his work as a butt-print painter and that he also
could face unpaid suspension pending an investigation.
Murmer has been instructed by the school administration not to speak
with the media, Glenberg said. He did not return messages seeking
comment Tuesday.
Chesterfield County schools spokeswoman Debra Marlow confirmed that a
Monacan art teacher had been placed on administrative leave but
declined to provide additional details because it is a personnel issue.
"In the school system, personnel regulations state that teachers are
expected to set an example for students through their personal
conduct," Marlow said. "Additionally, the Supreme Court has stated that
schools must teach by example and that teachers, like parents, are role
models."
Murmer went to great lengths to keep his work life separate from his
activities as an artist, said ACLU executive director Kent Willis. As a
butt-printing artist, he goes by the name "Stan Murmur," and appears in
disguise in photographs and videos promoting his art.
"As a public employee, he has constitutional rights, and he certainly
has the right to engage in private legal activities protected by the
First Amendment of the Constitution," Willis said.
A nearly naked Murmer expressed concern about remaining incognito
during a 2003 appearance on the now-canceled cable television talk
show, "Unscrewed With Martin Sargent." In a clip from the show,
available on YouTube.com, Murmer dons a fake nose and glasses, a towel
on his head, a black thong _ and nothing else.
"I'm certainly proud of the ass painting," Murmer said in response to
questions about his disguise. "I do have a real job where I do have
real clients and I don't think they'd be too understanding if I was
also the guy who painted with my ass."
That video has made the rounds at Monacan High, where the mere mention
of Murmer's name was enough to elicit grins from students Tuesday. Most
appeared to be firmly behind their teacher, describing his suspension
as "stupid," "ignorant" and "kinda retarded."
"Everyone has been talking about it," senior Heather Thompson said with
a laugh as she and other students streamed out of school.
Thompson, who worked with Murmer in the school's art club, said many
students have known about his paintings for a few years, but the
YouTube clip recently got everyone buzzing. She and other students
described Murmer as a funny, likable and popular teacher. There is
little support among the student body for his suspension, she said.
"It was simply him expressing himself and his art, and it had nothing
to do with school _ he wasn't advertising," she said.
This is not the first time Murmer has faced potential problems because
of his extracurricular activities. Three years ago, he contacted the
ACLU after he was told school administrators were unhappy about his
paintings, Willis said. The issue eventually blew over with no
suspension issued, Willis said. It was unclear why administrators
decided to take action now.
Owning a piece of Murmer's art doesn't come cheap. On his Web site, his
creations run upward of $900. His most popular piece, "Tulip Butts,"
goes for $600.
So how does one become a butt-printing artist? On his Web site, Murmur
said his journey began a few years ago when he was told to find an
organic item to use as a stamp for a class painting assignment. He
decided to use his posterior. His final product was a hit with the
class and a butt painter was born.
He was, however, the only student not asked to hold up his organic
stamp.
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