About that generously proportioned, bare breasted figure in the Mendocino photo...
What do you think it means? I admit, I originally posted it as an example of a bit of good-natured, unconventional whimsy from the mind of an unknown (to me anyway) Mendocino craftsman. The town is known for its art studios, music venues, off-beat culture, and a variety of breweries (and pot growers).
So, in the spirit of the day at hand when it was photographed, I just interpreted it in a lighthearted fashion; however...
Now I'm wondering if it is supposed to represent a nautical mourning motif? Even a bare-breasted figure could have a certain symbolism in that context.
I'm not versed in this stuff, but there are a whole lot of artistic, knowledgeable people in the Photo Group (and DU at large) so I'm wondering if anyone has any guesses about any meaning behind the carving, other than the one I originally posited?
= new reply since forum marked as read
Or chime in as the church lady and chide over the big bazongas and pretend to be offended. But I'm not sure its half as funny as it is in my head. 
then the female aspect can easily tie into the "widow's walk" features of the buildings. 
The big vs small breasts, the carver probably had a preference....
I'm sure the carver had a preference. 
It was the disrobed nature of those breasts that gave me pause. Not the first thing I think of in a sea widow's motif, but I'm neither nautically inclined, nor Victorian...nor a widow, for that matter.
