Theoretically, this, is one of the artists simplest pieces, containing no sexual imagery, and should not have engendered nearly the amount of controversy that it has. As part of its annual sculpture invitational at Heritage Village in Columbus, Ohio Lawless was asked to join 31 other artists in mostly large-scale installations that were requested to be site specific. Lawless chose a site close to Interstate-70 where he erected Didy Wah Didy named for the mythical railroad bound for hell (Black Southern folklore.) With extremely simple imagery and few words the piece is a timed neon sequence that shows a  mushroom cloud forming (animated) over a boys head. With the words "Atomic Playground Ahead" and "Kids Ride the Big One!" it is a piercing send-up of typical American road side attractions. In three of the four corners, constantly flashing are the words "chills," "spills," "thrills." When the "kid", who starts out smiling, then becomes alarmed, is finally "nuked," "death" with an alternating skull and cross bones flashes in the lower right hand corner. Each of the three flashing words are surrounded by the icons common in Lawless' work, lightning bolts, dollar signs and stars. In all it is a timed sequence of approximately sixty seconds.
      The City of Columbus was not amused, and cited Lawless for erecting a sign without a permit (and declared at a well attended hearing that Lawless was not an artist but a "sign maker"), in hopes of shutting it down. Practiced now in the ways of lawyers and court, Lawless went to battle again for the right to exhibit his work. Although the piece  was damaged and temporairly turned off now, Lawless won an early skirmish by obtaining a temporary restraining order prohibiting anyone near the work (intimidation by the City resulted in the covering of the piece in black plastic by the curators of the exhibtion.) At the end of the exhbition as the sculpture was being taken down Common Pleas Court of Columbus agreed with the City Commission that the sculpture was not art but a sign.
    It should not be taken lightly that Columbus, Ohio, which is the home of the Ohio Arts Council, had just previously been embroiled in a controvery over a Lichenstein sculpture at the airport. In both cases there was not one word of support from the Ohio Arts Council for either of the artists. An increasingly disturbing trend throughout the country in the last ten years.
    The sculpture is currently standing on Interstate 480, south of Cleveland, Ohio.

Article in New Art Examiner, January, 1989, page 68.
Cleveland Edition, September 22, 1988, 17.