James VanOosting is professor of public communication at Fordham University. He is a published author of ten books, and his work has been published in NCR, AMERICA, Commonweal, and The Christian Century.
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That One's a Sculpture
When I first noticed the figure, I assumed it must be a man or a woman. On this day, however, something made me stop to look more carefully. Schmaltz’s sculpture is realistic in form though slightly diminutive in scale. I stepped in closer to inspect its details. I reached out to touch the supplicant hand. The sculptor probably wanted such a response — appreciating the object while objectifying what it represents. After all, one can’t stop and stare at an actual street person, stepping back and forth to gaze intently. One certainly can’t touch that person’s skin to see what it feels like. This particular art object is unusual because it mimics live human beings who sit nearby. The juxtaposition packs a wallop. At least, it does for me.