We really thought we’d seen it all in the final weeks leading up to a historic presidential election — that is, until a bronze-colored sculpture memorializing the fabled turd on Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the January 6 insurrection landed like an asteroid at the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Yes, you read that right … a rendition of Nancy Pelosi’s desk, complete with a metallic shite of elephantine proportions, is currently stationed within view of the United States Capitol as of yesterday afternoon, October 24.
“This memorial honors the brave men and women who broke into the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021, to loot, urinate, and defecate throughout these hallowed halls in order to overturn an election,” reads an affixed bronze plaque.
“President Trump celebrates these heroes of January 6th as ‘unbelievable patriots’ and ‘warriors.’ This monument stands as a testament to their daring sacrifice and lasting legacy,” the plaque continues.
Passersby swarmed like flies around the sculpture yesterday afternoon when it mysteriously appeared.
The artwork alludes to a quote by Francis Connor, who was charged along with hundreds of others for his participation in the deadly January 6 insurrection. Claiming that he “pooped in pelosis (sic) desk …” in a group chat about a week after the insurrection, per court filings, Connor was sentenced in 2022 to 12 months of probation, three months of house arrest, 60 hours of community service, and hit with multiple fines.
Even more fascinating is that, in contrast with the nature of the insurrection, whoever commissioned and installed the artwork also obtained a permit to do so from the National Park Service. The National Park Service did not immediately respond to Hyperallergic‘s inquiries, though they disclosed to the Washington Post that a person named Julia Jimenez-Pyzik filed for the permit request under Civic Crafted, LLC, and that the sculpture will be on view until Wednesday, October 30.
In addition to the fro-yo-shaped feces, the artwork includes models of a landline phone as well as a smartphone, a Nancy Pelosi nameplate, a stack of Post-Its, and some file folders.
As the election looms, several groups have been turning to public art to make a statement. An enormous marionette-like effigy of a naked Donald Trump that was first displayed outside of Las Vegas at the end of September has been cropping up in swing states throughout the nation throughout this month. Over the summer, the Americans For Contraception campaign made a splash with “Freeda,” the gigantic inflatable intrauterine device that was initially erected in Washington, DC, before going on tour nationwide to stimulate conversations about contraceptive access as well.
It’s not immediately clear if the sculpture is satirizing the idolization of January 6 or serves as an actual endorsement of Trump, but one thing is for sure — this is the shit that gets people talking.
