The Butt Print Artist Speaks: An Interview With Stan Murmur
This is True
by Randy Cassingham
IS ANYONE ELSE DISTURBED THAT EVERYONE
INSTANTLY RECOGNIZED HIM?
Stephen Murmer went to "great lengths" to ensure his off-hours passion as an
artist was hidden from people at his day job: art teacher at Monacan
High School in Richmond, Va. The art he produced in his time off is, as
he puts it, "ass painting" -- he dips his rear in paint and then stamps
it on canvas, and the cheeky results sell for hundreds of dollars. But
when Murmer appeared on TV to demonstrate his technique, he was
recognized despite his using a pseudonym and wearing a disguise (and
nothing but a thong). The school suspended him over the objection of
his students, and the school board fired him. "This is a bad day for
the First Amendment," said Murmer's lawyer, Jason Anthony, adding he's
disappointed that school officials didn't stand behind him. (Richmond
Times-Dispatch, AP) ...They tried to, but they couldn't help "looking".
4 comments:
Wow. I just heard about this whole ordeal. Horrible!
Loved the quote about being in the military and not being known as the guy that ran around with a machine gun.
It's disgusting that the spokesperson for a government agency went on tv and admitted that Chesterfield Co. placed a teacher "on administrative leave for the way he does his artwork"?
You spent years defending the personal liberties of the same local bureaucrats that denied you yours. It turns my stomach.
Your students have lost a great teacher and your school system has lost a great person.
Take care and continue to fight the good fight.
Well, I have many things I could say about Stan. So here it goes...Before Stan became a teacher at Monacan High School I knew him from a daycare that I used to go to. He was a "looked-up to adult" who loved children and worked as a teacher and a mentor that I looked up to. I would even help him study for his art finals during recess. Then he came to Monacan, I heard we had a new art teacher, but I didn't know who. Low and behold I ran into him one day in the hall. I was so excited to see him. As time passed I wasn't the only one who looked up to Mr. Murmer almost everyone at Monacan looked up to him. He was an amazing teacher who always pushed his students to work harder and follow what they believed. I am now a sophmore at Longwood University studying to become a teacher and much to my suprise I found out about this from my aunt in Flordia before it hit papers in Richmond. My whole life I have wanted to be a teacher and wanted to work in Chesterfield County where I was born and raised. However, this rediculous ordeal has changed my mind completely! I now refuse to teach in Chesterfield County because I feel that they are more worried about how they look and their reputation, than about their students. When they fired him they never thought about how the students felt, just themselves. Students from Monacan have created a group on Facebook called "GET MR. MURMER BACK IN THE CLASSROOM" that now has 185 members. If only they would've asked the students their opinions I'm sure he wouldn't have gotten fired. He has made a difference in so many peoples lives (whether he knows that or not),not only in my life, not only students, but teachers and other people too. So to you Mr. Murmer this is what I say...I still look up to you, your art is a gift that god gave you. It is an amazing gift and your work is beautiful. I know that Monacan High School will never be the same without you. I believe in and support you 100% along with my whole family. Chesterfield County made a huge mistake and will soon find out no one can replace you as a teacher. I wish you the best and know that you will find another job where people actually respect your work, respect you as a teacher, and respect you as a person. Let me say thank you for making a difference in my life and so many others. Keep up the fight and never give up! Best Wishes!- Sarah Coen
i added your siteawhile back after reading through it i think you are one extremely artistic man
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