Scott LoBaido, a New York artists and self-proclaimed “surrealist and patriot,” has decided to give the Westboro Baptist Church a taste of its own medicine. In a passive counter-attack against the church’s recent anti-gay demonstrations at military funerals, LoBaido set up shop across the street from the organization’s headquarters in Topeka, Kansas and displayed a painting of Pastor Fred Phelps Sr. locked in a carnal embrace with the devil.
In a phone interview with the Los Angeles Times, LoBaido explained, “I’m trying to alert the creative masses to use their 1st Amendment rights” by maintaining a legal distance from the property while still expressing his opinion about the church’s activities through his incendiary art.
LoBaido unveiled the portrait on Sunday, accompanied by Lady Gaga tunes played from his car parked nearby. While police cited LoBaido for being too close to the property and for playing his music too loud, they abandoned further action after the artist protested that he was merely creating art, not a sign or campaign, and that he had a legal right to be on the premises.
The painting will be auctioned off on Ebay, and LoBaido intends to donate proceeds to the veteran’s housing organization Homes for Heroes.
