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Nude statue of Angelina Jolie to be unveiled in Norman

DAVID ZIZZO

The event will occur in Oklahoma partly because Brad Pitt was born in Shawnee. Pitt, of course, is half of "Brangelina,” the popular designation for the two stars’ relationship, and also, by the way, the name of a theme house being built in Edmond.

The life-size sculpture, titled "Landmark for Breastfeeding,” was inspired by last year’s cover of W magazine featuring Jolie suckling her baby. It was created by Daniel Edwards to promote acceptance of public breast-feeding. "I’m doing a series on celebrity mothers,” he said. "It kind of fit with past works I’ve done.”

A former Edwards work, "Monument to Pro-Life,” depicts Britney Spears giving birth on a bearskin rug. Edwards also has created "Octomom: String of Babies,” busts of Ted Williams and Fidel Castro and a sculpture called "Dead Prince Harry,” depicting the prince in uniform, holding a locket, with a vulture by his feet and his head on a Bible.

A spokesman for Jolie said he was aware of the nude sculpture but would have no comment.

Cory Allen, a Norman filmmaker working on a documentary called "Domestic Bliss” about the Brangelina project, is "project coordinator” for the Jolie breast-feeding piece. He said the sculpture by Edwards, "considered the most famous living artist right now,” will tour London and one of the five bronze castings of the piece will be auctioned in New York. One will be in the garden of the Brangelina home, a 4,000-square-foot, $480,000 home in Edmond that Edmond street artist Xvala says will be "the embodiment of the Brangelina.”

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Xvala is the art name used by Jeff Hamilton, who’s collaborating with Edwards on artwork in the Brangelina home.

"There’s never been anything like this,” he said of the home. Everything in the house will reflect the spirituality and beliefs of Jolie and Pitt, he said.

"They’re such the ideal that the house has to live up to that ideal,” he said.

The roof decking (now covered with shingles) was stenciled with numerous smiling hearts.

Framing (much of it now covered with drywall) was covered with almost 10,000 letters that make up numerous quotes by the famous couple. Some of those will remain visible in the attic, Xvala said.

Rooms will have various Brangelina themes. Also, Edwards said, on the ceiling of the master bedroom will be another sculpture of Brad and Angelina "in bed in an embrace.”

Allen said the hope is that, using family unity as a theme, the house will "establish a good vibration” as the artists’ answer to the struggling housing market. The Brangelina house is an experiment combining artwork and housing, one that might require an owner who is, as Xvala puts it, "a fan of domestic bliss.”

Even if the famous couple eventually go the way of so many celebrities and part ways, Xvala said, "the house will survive their breakup.”

Photo provided