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TORONTO — It takes political transparency to a whole newlevel. Canadians got an eyeful Friday as images of a painting depictingthe prime minister in the nude went viral. The large oil on canvas, which Stephen Harper did not pose for, isby Kingston, Ont.,-based artist Margaret Sutherland. It shows the prime minister reclining on a chaise lounge wearingnothing but a subtle smile, surrounded by people in suits, whosefaces can't be seen. A dog rests at his feet as a woman in businessattire offers him what looks like a Tim Hortons cup on a silverplatter. The piece appeared to draw out the art critic in many Canucks. ``This is just too funny — think she painted him a bit skinny— he should really be wearing his vest,' Myrtle Grahamposted on Facebook. ``This made my day. Nude Stephen Harper is ART,' tweeted DeniseBalkissoon. Other's weren't as amused: ``Oh dear lord: may have to pluck eyesout now,' tweeted Paula Schuck. ``I don't know whether to laugh orbe horrified,' added Kelsey Rolfe. The Prime Minister's Office also took to Twitter to voice areaction to the piece. ``On the Sutherland painting: we're not impressed. Everyone knowsthe PM is a cat person,' tweeted Harper spokesman AndrewMacDougall, referring to the canine on the canvas. Others on Parliament Hill took a similar tongue-in-cheek approach. ``This is one case where I think we really do need a Conservativecover-up,' said Liberal MP Scott Brison. ``I guess you could sayin this painting it's quite obvious that the Prime Minister hasvery little to hide.' For Sutherland, who completed the painting last year, the point ofher piece was a satirical one. ``It was a sort of a culmination of some general frustrations ofthe federal government's policies and what they were telling us,'said Sutherland, who has been particularly peeved with thegovernment's elimination of the long form census and its closure ofcertain prison farms. ``The political message is to look for yourself and don'tnecessarily believe the party line.' The painting's title — Emperor Haute Couture — is alsopart of the pun as it carries a reference to ``The Emperor's NewClothes,' a tale by Hans Christian Andersen in which a vain kingparades around naked, believing his new suit is so superior that itis invisible to those unfit for their positions in life. ``Satire is a great way to make valid social comment and have somefun at the same time,' said Sutherland. But while she often paints nudes, the 50-year-old added that hermuch-talked-about painting will likely be her only depiction of apolitician. The painting is priced at $5,000 and already has a few interestedbuyers. It currently graces a wall at the Kingston public library as afinalist in the Juried Art Salon, a competition hosted by theKingston Arts Council. ``The bemusement and the ironic value of the portrait is certainlyappreciated by the adults in the community,' said councilpresident Joan Heaton, who called the painting a bold work of art. The painting has, however, ruffled some feathers in the community,largely because of the fact that it is a nude work displayed in aroom where children's recitals are held. The library now covers up the piece when a children's program isunder way and has it on full display at all other times until theend of the month. ``A lot of people think it is disrespectful,' said chief librarianPatricia Enright. ``We've also had comments from other people whoare unhappy that we were covering it.' The library is trying to balance artistic creativity with the factthat the room is used by a range of people, Enright said. But Sutherland feels covering her painting is too cautious a move. ``The point of the painting is not to show genitalia,' she said.``Perhaps we need to have a discussion about public art and howcareful we are of children's sensitivity.' Before it was displayed in Kingston and attracted the country'sattention, the painting of the prime minister baring it all wasfirst displayed last fall at Toronto's Edward Day Gallery, whichrepresents Sutherland. Gallery owner Mary Sue Rankin said amid all the hubub the paintinghas created, Sutherland's piece ultimately has a serious messageabout Harper not living up to his promises. ``There's no sensationalism in what's she's done,' said Rankin.``She just painted her heart, painted her thoughts.'. I am an expert from precisioninjectionmould.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Plastic Overmoulding , China Plastic Injection Molded Parts, Plastic Injection Moulds,and more.
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