CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A museum director in this military town removed an art exhibit featuring several deep-fried American flags.
Art student William Gentry said his piece, "The Fat Is in the Fire," was a commentary on obesity in America. "I deep-fried the flag because I'm concerned about America and about America's health," Gentry said.
Customs House Museum executive director Ned Crouch took down the artwork Wednesday less than 18 hours after it went up in this community next to the Fort Campbell.
"It's about what the community values," Crouch said. "I'm representing 99 percent of our membership — educators, doctors, lawyers, military families."
He also said the timing of the piece could cause "incendiary reactions."
"Never in the history of the country has the flag been more hated or more loved," Crouch said.
The exhibit featured three U.S. flags imprinted with such phrases as "Poor people are obese because they eat poorly" and dozens of smaller flags fried in peanut oil, egg batter, flour and black pepper.
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