Full frontal gargoyle stirs Arizona community controversy

Emily Brown | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Full frontal nude gargoyle statue stirs controversy Authorities are telling an artist that his nine-foot sculpture of a nude male gargoyle has to go.

An anatomically-correct male gargoyle has Arizona neighbors looking away, but the artist isn't willing to remove it from his lawn.

The 9-foot-tall metal gargoyle has a wingspan of 13 feet. It also has proportionately large male genitalia.

David Smith said he put the statue on his lawn shortly after he moved to Paulden, Ariz., from Phoenix. Yavapai County officials asked him to take it down the next day, saying it was offensive. He said it was on display for six years in Phoenix without any complaints.

He faces a $1,000 fine if he doesn't remove it from public view.

"It wasn't put on there to offend anybody. That isn't the reason, Smith said. "It just seemed like it needed to be there. I don't like Ken dolls."