Bill Steele, who lives in a converted jail with human skulls, a coffin and many other macabre collectibles, is no stranger to controversy.
And he certainly doesn’t shy away from it.
He’s all about shock value.
“I do make a statement with everything that I do, and if I put it outside, it’s for people to enjoy,” said Steele, the owner of the Dorchester Jail Bed and Breakfast. “And if you’re shocked by it, that’s cool.
“I got all kinds of crazy stuff in there. I love it. I love buying weird stuff and having fun.”
Facebook post launches debate
But Steele’s latest purchase has caused a bit of a stir in Dorchester, a community in southeastern New Brunswick near Sackville and now part of the municipality of Tantramar.
Four concrete sculptures on his front lawn along the main drag in Dorchester depict naked women kneeling down with their arms raised and their hands on either side of their heads.
A resident’s recent Facebook post on a Dorchester community page drew attention to the statues and began a flurry of more than 80 comments for and against, but mostly against. Commenting was closed on the post after only a few days.
Steele isn’t sure what all the fuss is about. He said he’s not offended by the statues and said that’s what art is for — to promote discussion about individual interpretation.
“I don’t think it’s disrespectful,” he said. “If anybody’s sexualizing this, that’s their problem, not mine. But if they see something a little bit more provocative, it creates that conversation, and I’m OK with that.”
Bill Steele, who converted the former Dorchester jail into a bed and breakfast, says his statues aren’t offensive and is pleased they’ve sparked discussion.
Even so, after hearing the “rumblings” from the community, he removed a fake ball and chain from one of the statues. He also bought tank tops to cover three of them.
“Yeah, I left one uncovered. Yeah, probably on purpose.”
Steele said he researched other examples of nude artwork before putting “the girls,” as he refers to them, on his lawn in front of the old jail building.
“It’s just how everybody takes it. And I think this is acceptable and it’s up to interpretation.”
Rebecca Knockwood, chief of nearby Fort Folly Indian Reserve and one of many who commented on the post last month, disliked the display and said it brought about thoughts of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
“Every time I drive by there I keep thinking of the MMIWG … breaks my heart … and also trafficking of girls and women.”
Knockwood did not respond to interview requests from CBC.
Others contacted by CBC declined to comment, citing concern over Steele’s habit of fighting back against criticism.
Andrew Black, the mayor of the amalgamated community of Tantramar, said he is not aware of any complaints about the statues.
Embracing the macabre motif
Steele said he’s always on the lookout for interesting additions to his collection of odd objects, ghoulish gizmos and movie memorabilia, including from O.J. Simpson.
He has fully embraced the theme of the property he purchased in 2017. After all, the place he now calls home was the scene of several executions, and the bodies are buried in the backyard.
Little is known about the history of the statues, which Steele found at an auction last year in Amherst, N.S. He bought 10 of them for $5 each.
Because they’re heavy, he spent another $500 to transport them to his place. Some of them were in rough shape, so he put the best four on display, sold a couple and put the rest out back.
He said he has no intention of removing them from his front lawn.
