Gaea the vaginal beaver returned to Bemidji Sculpture Walk

Deborah Davis

Does this beaver look like a vagina to you?

​Bemidji City Council just voted unanimously to return a controversial beaver to its rightful place on the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.

Painted by artist Deborah Davis, "Gaea" is a celebration of womanhood and one of nine four-foot-tall ceramic beaver sculptures painted by local artists.

But when 20 people called to complain about what they viewed as a vagina on the beaver's belly, City Manager John Chattin took action and censored her beaver from public view.

Davis wasn't going to take that lying down. Supporters organized a Facebook campaign that attracted local and national press attention.

As the beaver went viral, City Council was forced to call a special session to address the controversy.

Gaea supporters came out in droves, speaking eloquently about the artistic merits of the beaver. And as of tonight, the beaver is back.

"I think, rather than anything negative, Bemidji will be known for people who speak for liberty, freedom. Justice, and art," Davis wrote on Facebook.

Here is the full collection of beavers. "Gaea" is third from the left.

Catie Belleveau

All of the beavers have been re-united.

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