Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of working on my first public art commission. The project is a collaboration between myself, friend and artist Ryan Carrington (ryancarringtonart.com), and the San Jose Rotary Club. The idea behind the project is "Children at Play". Not my typical weirdness, but a figurative installation non-the-less. For those of you (all three of you who read this) that find yourself in San Jose, you can see the work on permanent display in the Guadalupe River Park, in the section between Julian and St John streets. We installed the work a few days ago, and I must say, I have never been so nervous and protective of any other project I have ever made. What got me so bejiggety was that these were installed on what was apparently a homeless woman's property. Now the woman in her own right was most certainly not operating on all eight cylinders. I am pretty sure that she doesn't own any of the park. If fact, I claim more ownership because well, not to be a dick, but I pay taxes. I would be willing to wager, she does not. We first encountered her in the morning, just as we had set the last kid in place. She demanded that we take our statues when we left. She didn't want them on her property. What really worried me was that she or any other person who had fried the cognition out of their head with drug use,was going to attack one of the aluminum kids before the epoxy had set. So I stayed around the park for a few hours and took LOTS of photographs. But alas hunger struck and to Subway I had to go. I wasn't able to get back to the park until late that evening. I noticed that the pieces needed to be shimmed a bit so I went to work. I looked up and saw much to my chagrin, that the crazy lady was back and fast approaching me. I kept my head down and hoped she would find someone else on her property, but it didn't work and she came straight for me. She informed me very aggressively, that I should "take these Marxist sculptures out or that they will be destroyed if I have anything to say about it! This IS my property!" First of all, Marxist?? Really??? They are kids! Kid rarely have any political affiliation! I suppose it is a fool that looks for logic in the mind of a meth head. Any way, I told her that I was just doing my job and I would be sure to tell my bosses. It seemed to placate her and she left mumbling something. The whole encounter with her and various taggers in the park got me REALLY pissed off. It amazes me what society puts up with. Well, they made it their first night, and the unveiling the next day was a success! The lady must have had bigger fish to fry. They are built to endure and hopefully will. More images of this project will follow shortly. "Criminals thrive on the indulgences of society"-Raz Algul, League of Shadows
Prepare for Take Off
The property owner herself
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