Los Angeles, airport officials consider covering up art depicting nudes

LOS ANGELES -- An art display at the Los Angeles International Airport has been covered up because some travelers complained about the nudity of the male figures in the sandblasted granite slabs.

Artist Susan Narduli finished "The Wonders of the Heavens and Flying" about three weeks ago, and the work has for the most part remained covered since. City and airport officials are expected to decide by Aug. 2 whether they believe it is appropriate for public display.

The sandblasted slabs are on the floor of the American Airlines terminal.

In one piece, the figures appear to be in flight, gracefully leaping toward the sky. The other figures are posed and the images look more like photographs. In all the images, genitals are obscured by subtle shading.

Because of media interest, the artwork was uncovered for a few hours on Thursday.

Traveler Beverly Jordan, 53, shook her head as she walked by.

"I don't think they are appropriate at all," she said. "I think the male body parts should be covered up completely. I don't see the purpose."

Her husband thought differently.

"It's art," Lee Jordan said.