potty prodigy

I used to hold her poised
as a tadpole
at the
edge of the porcelain
Fountain
holding bottom suspended
holding (fingers tracing rib spaces)
holding breath

Tiny cold splash
and she touches toes
for the safe necessity of
doctors and mothers

Squeaky vanilla peach &
bouncing blond curls.

Fountain Gallery

Behind the art

Bathrooms can be incredibly controversial. For instance, in 1917 Marcel Duchamp entered a porcelain urinal into the Society of Independent Artists’ first exhibition in 1917. The rules stated all artists who paid the fee could display their artwork at The Grand Central Palace in New York (1917). The piece was rejected, but the Duchamp’s urinal completely changed the course of art history, as art became more than a craft made by hand. Art became an intellectual idea.

One hundred years after Duchamp redefined the art world, controversy over gender identity and public lavatory usage fueled “Bathroom bills” (2017) throughout the United States. Strict gender-separated lavatories continue to be hotly contended, considering every variation and version of gender. Many conscientious businesses simply nixed the traditional men’s room and powder room, instead offering two restrooms that men, women, LBGTQs, fluid gender, and ambiguous gender (etc.) can use at their discretion.