{"id":312878,"date":"2026-06-19T09:24:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T09:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/312878\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T09:24:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T09:24:12","slug":"rumor-claims-this-old-florida-sculpture-shows-something-illicit-heres-the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/312878\/","title":{"rendered":"Rumor claims this old Florida sculpture shows something illicit. Here\u2019s the truth"},"content":{"rendered":"

GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The University of Florida has a massive campus, but those who wander near the Animal Sciences building are likely to spot something rather odd.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a sculpture entitled \u201cSome Were Quite Blind.\u201d<\/p>\n

The art piece is purposefully abstract, with four aluminum statues sticking straight up out of the ground.<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s a lewd rumor about this sculpture that\u2019s become the de facto assumption for many \u2014 namely, that they represent four animal penises.<\/p>\n

THE REPUTATION<\/p>\n

According to the curio website Atlas Obscura<\/a>, the giant metal statues represent the genitals of a boar, a cat, a bull and a ram.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe collection of penis statues is accompanied by a small plaque,\u201d the website reads. \u201cHowever, it doesn\u2019t give any information as to what the artwork actually represents, making it easy for passersby to miss the true identities of the massive mammalian phalluses.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Some Were Quite Blind” by Carol K. Brown (1987) (University of Florida)<\/p>\n

This has certainly given the sculpture a unique reputation, though there\u2019s a glaring issue with the rumors about it.<\/p>\n

They just aren\u2019t true \u2014 at least, according to the artist herself.<\/p>\n

THE REAL STORY<\/p>\n

Carol Brown<\/a>, who originally built the pieces around 40 years ago, told News 6 that the art piece was a result of a state grant.<\/p>\n

But a couple of years ago, she received a call from someone claiming to write a paper on the \u201cpenises\u201d that she had installed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, \u2018Well, I don\u2019t know anything about you, but you\u2019re so far off the mark, it\u2019s ridiculous,\u2019\u201d Brown explained. \u201c\u2019 I think that before you try to write about art, you should study animal anatomy.\u2019 And the guy was livid, of course, because I\u2019m sure I was offensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Some Were Quite Blind” by Carol K. Brown (1987) (University of Florida)<\/p>\n

Despite her protestations, though, Brown said the label soon stuck.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure enough, all over the Internet, it shows up,\u201d she continued. \u201c\u2018Go see the animal penises at the Animal and Dairy Sciences Building \u2014 the ram, the cat, whatever.\u2019”<\/p>\n

WHAT IS THE SCULPTURE SUPPOSED TO BE?<\/p>\n

As expected, Brown told News 6 that the sculpture was not meant to depict genitalia.<\/p>\n

Instead, she said, the sculpture was a product of her interest in European modernist art.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a traditional sculpture that interested me very much at that time, and I was developing a vocabulary that was just figures that had a lifelike aspect to them,\u201d she explained. \u201cI\u2019ll phrase it that way: in some cases, they made references to vague hints of animals or people.\u201d<\/p>\n

[BELOW: Here\u2019s where Florida\u2019s last two \u201cFuture Houses\u201d can be found]<\/p>\n

As such, Brown built her metal sculptures with abstract forms that were \u201cvaguely anthropomorphic or zoomorphic,\u201d which fit in with the theme of the nearby Animal Sciences building.<\/p>\n

In addition, Brown discussed the title of her art piece, \u201cSome Were Quite Blind,\u201d which was also based on abstract themes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was busy thinking about all of the people who were so offended about the idea of the art, and so i came up with the title \u2018Some Were Quite Blind\u2019 because you didn\u2019t know if it would refer tot he piece or the people looking at the piece,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

WHAT IS SHE DOING NOW?<\/p>\n

While Brown used to be a sculptor, she said her work has since evolved, leading her to become a painter. Many of her works can still be found on her website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That said, the reputation her sculpture has garnered has bled into her personal life to some extent.<\/p>\n

\u201dI have a grandson who\u2019s now 20 years old, and he came in the other day, not too long ago, and he said, \u2018Did you really do all these penises?\u2019” she said.<\/p>\n

And despite the negative experience she suffered with this specific piece, she\u2019s still a vocal proponent of public art.<\/p>\n

\u201cPublic art is just meant to liven up dead space in my mind. I mean, it activates an area and can be wonderful,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd there\u2019s so many great things to say about public art that I sort of hate pointing out all the things that went wrong on this one because of people\u2019s perceptions.\u201d<\/p>\n

[BELOW: Here\u2019s the terrifying story behind Florida\u2019s \u201cDevil Tree\u201d]<\/p>\n

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