The following article by
Diane Bell appeared in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.  You can see it online at the paper's website by clicking .  

April 2, 2009

Dallas artist Glen Tarnowski substituted Bugs Bunny for Jesus and other
cartoon characters for disciples in his parody of "The Last Supper,"
which he called "The Gathering." (Chuck Jones Gallery) –

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Never has a painting in the Chuck Jones Gallery window attracted so much attention.

It has stopped Old Town pedestrians midstep, eliciting smiles and
thoughtful looks from some; frowns, angry telephone calls and
unfriendly notes demanding its removal from others.

Two weeks ago, the gallery put on display an oil painting
parody of Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper.” Named “The Gathering,”
it substitutes Looney Tunes and other cartoon characters for disciples
and Bugs Bunny for Jesus.

“We never intended to offend anyone,” said Mike Dicken,
national sales director for the gallery at 2501 San Diego Ave. “Most
people think it's fun and amusing, but 5 percent are pulling their hair
out.”

The anonymous complaints came in – 10 to 12 a day by
phone – and a few notes, unsigned or signed “A concerned citizen.” So
the gallery added a biography of Dallas artist Glen Tarnowski,
explaining his intent and his background as a devout Christian and an
alumnus of California Lutheran University.

Craig Kausen, the Irvine-based gallery chain's CEO and
grandson of late Warner Bros. cartoonist and artist Chuck Jones, said
he even consulted a local priest who, while he hadn't seen the artwork,
was not upset by the concept.

“There is nothing irreverent about it whatsoever,” Kausen said.

Tarnowski defends portraying Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd,
Porky Pig, Pepe Le Pew, the Road Runner and other characters as
disciples, saying God loves people so much that even if we all were
cartoon characters, he would have come to us, perhaps in the form of
Bugs Bunny.

“Chuck Jones was the absolute master in using cartoon
characters to communicate the issues we deal with in life,” Tarnowski
said. “We all resonate with these characters.”

Two customers expressed interest in buying the artwork
but, at $20,000, it's not in the average budget, Dicken said. So, for
now, it is still in the window, and employees are happy to let Dicken
answer the phone.