Man Erects Middle Finger Sculpture Over Town After A Salty Situation

Source: WENN.com / WENN

A Development Board Really Pissed Him Off

Middle fingas up!

This was one Vermont man’s shmood when he decided to erect a giant statue of a middle finger over the town of Westford.

According to WCAX, Ted Pelkey created the “artwork” as a statement to people he has beef with.

When a reporter asked him who the statue was intended for, he replied “It’s intended for the people who run the town of Westford.”

Pelkey says he’s been in a long-running dispute with the town over whether he can develop his property. He wants to move his truck repair and monofilament recycling business to the town so he can gain more business and not pay rent in Swanton. However, Pelkey says Westford keeps putting up barriers and he believes the members of the town Development Review Board don’t want to see him thrive.

“In my eyes, if somebody tells you they hate you right up front, it’s a hate crime,” Pelkey said.

Uuh, mkay.

Notes from the last Development Review Board show that the board was concerned about how Pelkey’s building would be used, among other concerns.

Pelkey, however, believes these concerns are delay tactics. So he spent $4,000 on his sculpture to prove a point. When asked what he hopes will happen now that his sculpture has been seen, Pelkey said, “I’m hoping we can get it through to the people in the town of Westford to have a really long look at the people who are running their town.”

Residents had mixed reactions to the artwork towering above their town and Route 128.

“You can’t believe somebody went through all that work. It’s very big. Everybody got the message. But a lot of work went into it,” said Carol Jordan.

“It’s very odd,” a Deanna Wilcox said. “And certainly not the love that I hope everybody is spreading in the world today that we really need.”

Some people weren’t offended at all. “It’s somebody’s expression and it didn’t hurt anybody as far as I know except for maybe somebody’s feelings,” a Mark Sustic said.

The icing on top is the town can’t do anything about the giant middle finger. The select board told WCAX that the sculpture is considered public art, so it has protections.