The Week In Arts And Culture: Slavery Controversy, Bodybuilding Shots And Graffiti Churches (PHOTOS)

This week, there was a lot of talk about Kara Walker's recently reinstated drawing at the Newark Public Library.

"The library should be a safe harbor for controversies of all types, and those controversies can be dealt with in the context of what is known about art, about literature, democracy and freedom," library trustee Clement A. Price, a Rutgers university history professor, told the AP. "There's no better venue in Newark where such a powerful and potential controversial drawing should be mounted."

• KARA WALKER Fall Frum Grace, Miss Pipi's Blue Tale (video still), 2011 video, dvd, and beta master dimensions variable 17 minutes, sound Edition of 5 Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

• KARA WALKER Fall Frum Grace, Miss Pipi's Blue Tale (video still), 2011 video, dvd, and beta master dimensions variable 17 minutes, sound Edition of 5 Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

• KARA WALKER Fall Frum Grace, Miss Pipi's Blue Tale (video still), 2011 video, dvd, and beta master dimensions variable 17 minutes, sound Edition of 5 Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

• KARA WALKER Fall Frum Grace, Miss Pipi's Blue Tale (video still), 2011 video, dvd, and beta master dimensions variable 17 minutes, sound Edition of 5 Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

• KARA WALKER Fall Frum Grace, Miss Pipi's Blue Tale (video still), 2011 video, dvd, and beta master dimensions variable 17 minutes, sound Edition of 5 Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

On Thursday, we were entranced by Brian Finke's photo series on pumped up forms.

Simply titled "Bodybuilding," the collection of photographs highlights an array of individuals who push their bodies to unfathomable extremes. The 2005 series features women and men of all ages, exploring -- lightheartedly and seemingly without judgment -- a realm where obsessions with appearance and uniformity far exceed societal norms.

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #25) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #78) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #1) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #9) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #17) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #50) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #43) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #24) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #48) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #18) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #36) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuiling #16) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #14) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #49) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

• Untitled (Bodybuilding #38) Copyright Brian Finke, "Title," Date, Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City

Now, we can certainly appreciate the beauty in the classical aesthetic that so often characterizes sites of religious observance. But sometimes even traditional venues need a radical makeover.

Graffiti artist Hense did just that to a former church in Washington D.C.'s up-and-coming arts district. The artist got to work with the help of a small crew, using rollers, brushes, spray paint, inks, acrylics, mops, enamels and paint sprayers to cover every inch of the edifice in popping hues. After several weeks, the white church was transformed into a rainbow splattered objet d'art.

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And who could forget the presidential inauguration on Monday?

In honor of the occasion, we wanted to present our favorite portraits of the president below. Instead of Businessweek's wizened version, we see a man in top form, if Pete Souza's most recent political portrait is any indication that POTUS is getting his groove back.

• Shepard Fairey's Obama "Hope" Poster

  "Hope," <a href="http://www.obeygiant.com/about" target="_hplink">Shepard Fairey</a>, 2008.

• Nikola Greens Obama Print

  Nicola Green, Day 4, CHANGE, 2010 Three-colour silkscreen print with water-based enamel ink on cotton paper, 138.00 cm x 106.5 cm Image courtesy <a href="http://nicolagreen.com/">Studio of Nicola Green</a>

• Ted Ellis's Obama Bust

  Ted Ellis from "<a href="http://visionsofour44thpresident.com/">Visions of our 44th President</a>," at Detroit's Charles H Wright Museum of African American History.

• Gao Brother's Obama Painting

  "Double Portrait," <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/arts/design/06gao.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">Gao Brothers</a>, oil on canvas.

• Preston Jackson's Obama Bust

  Preston Jackson from "<a href="http://visionsofour44thpresident.com/">Visions of our 44th President</a>," at Detroit's Charles H Wright Museum of African American History.

• Jagjot Sing Rubal's Obama Painting

  Jagjot Singh Rubal gives final touches to a painting of re-elected US President Barack Obama, which he planed to mail to Obama as a gift, in Amritsar on November 7, 2012. (NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)

• Obama Mall Art

  This #WTF moment was brought to you by a mall art gallery. #Obama

• Hank Willis Thomas and Ryan Alexiev's Cereal Obama Portrait

  Artists Hank Willis Thomas and Ryan Alexiev created this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/celebrity-food-portraits_n_1609945.html">cereal mosaic depicting President Obama</a>, and titled it "<a href="http://www.cerealart.com/shopexd.asp?id=506">Breakfast of Champion</a>."

• Wangechi Mutu's Obama Bust

  Wangechi Mutu from "<a href="http://visionsofour44thpresident.com/">Visions of our 44th President</a>," at Detroit's Charles H Wright Museum of African American History.

• Obama Mural

  Mural number two (again, there were many murals)

• Renelio Marin's Obama Painting

  An acrylic on canvas painting of US President Barack Obama by Cuban-born artist Renelio Marin is seen through a protective grill of a gallery in New York City September 19, 2011. Marin has been working a series of paintings on historic American figures. (AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN)

• Jason Mecier's Jerk Obama Portrait

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/obama-romney-beef-jerky_n_1822562.html">Jack Links Beef Jerky and Jason Mecier</a>, a San Francisco-based muralist are responsible for these political protein portraits, which used approximately 50 bags of jerky each.

• Obama Latte Art

  Obama latte art , courtesy of our friends at Tokyo Otaku Mode.

• Giant OBama Painting

  A woman looks at a giant painting figuring US presidential candidates, democrat Barrack Obama (L) and republican John McCain as she visits the fiac international contemporary art fair on October 24, 2008 at the 'Grand Palais' in Paris, one day after its opening. The event takes place from 23 to 26 October at the Louvre Cour Carree, and at the Grand Palais. (AFP PHOTO LIONEL BONAVENTURE)

• Obama Cookie Art

  Is that an oatmeal base? Whatever it is, it's working for you, Mr. President. <em>Photo via Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniellerose/3007444265/sizes/z/in/photostream/">Sugar Sweet Sunshine</a></em>

• Obama Photograph

  "In Progress" by <a href="http://www.robertselwyn.com/website/">Robert Selwyn</a>.

• Antar Dayal's Obama Print

  "Yes We Can," <a href="http://www.dayalstudio.com/" target="_hplink">Antar Dayal</a>, 2008.

• Rafael Lopez's Obama Print

  "Voz Unida," <a href="http://www.rafaellopez.com/#/editorial/" target="_hplink">Rafael L?pez</a>, 2008.

• Nicola Green's Obama Print

  Nicola Green, Day 6, SACRIFICE/EMBRACE, 2010. Two-colour silkscreen print with water-based enamel ink on cotton paper, 138.00 cm x 106.5 cm. Image courtesy <a href="http://nicolagreen.com/">Studio of Nicola Green</a>

• Gui Borchert's Obama Print

  "Words of Change," <a href="http://www.guiborchert.com/" target="_hplink"> Gui Borchert</a>, 2008.

• Obama Sushi Art

  A Japanese sushi Chef created this jaw-dropping <a href="http://boingboing.net/2009/02/19/obama-sushi.html">Obama sushi</a>. We cannot believe this is real. <em>Image via <a href="http://boingboing.net/2009/02/19/obama-sushi.html">Boing Boing</a></em>

• Ian William's Obama Bust

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/ian-williams-obama-romney-play-doh_n_1933771.html">Ian William's Obama Bust</a> made entirely from Play-Doh.

• Obama Sand Sculpture

  A general view of a sand sculpture of President Barack Obama outside the Time Warner Cable Arena on September 1, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

• Obama Mural

  One of the many Obama murals that popped on the walls of American cities.

• A Myanmar police officer looks at a graffiti portrait of US president Barack Obama (L) with the words ''Welcome Obama'' in Yangon, on November 17, 2012. Myanmar's government has said it 'warmly welcomes' the historic visit of US President Barack Obama later this month, expressing hope his trip will bolster the nation's political reform drive. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)

• President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait

  U.S. President Barack Obama during a presidential portrait sitting for an official photograph in the Oval Office.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/26/the-week-in-arts-and-culture_n_2553848.html

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