Nude garden statues covered up in face of criticism

HARTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Nude statues at a garden center here proved a bit immodest for some in this small town. But it turns out nude yard art dressed up in little velvet sarongs is something really worth a look.

The statues are 500 pounds of bare breasts, bottoms and shape, done in the classical style of nude sculptures. Last month, the G & L Garden Center was asked by some callers to move the concrete statues around back, to spare people from the immodesty.

Owners Angie Langford and Pam Gregory decided to cover them up instead, an option that has attracted a lot more attention -- and a lot more customers for the $99.95 ornaments.

The dozen statues on display among the plants in front of the garden center now sport crimson velvet, two-piece sarongs.

The owners say it's no joke or sarcastic statement.

"We didn't want to offend anyone, and we covered them up," Langford said.

She said she couldn't afford to ignore customers, even if she isn't exactly sure who the callers were.

Now, the attempt at maintaining the girls' roadside modesty is stopping traffic. And yes, some customers are peeking.

"They are pulling the tops and looking underneath," Langford said. "They wonder what we're hiding."

Although the anonymous callers sought a cover-up, workers across the street at Hartsville Gas had full view of the nude statues and didn't seem to be bothered.

"I guess some people just don't appreciate art," said gas technician Brad Smith.

Hartsville is a town of 3,500 about 40 miles northeast of Nashville.