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black boxes and fear

updated mon 30 dec 02

 

Mary O'Connell on fri 20 dec 02


I would say that the student who put the black boxes in public space was =
very successful in the execution of his/her concept. Certainly did push =
the fear button in people. Pretty amazing that security could be so lax =
in that space to allow someone to put containers out there in a specific =
arrangement for any length of time. I applaud the student for grabbing =
the attention of a lot of people who can hopefully go beyond their own =
fear and secure the space better.

When I was in graduate school I made a series of work and took it to =
Fermi National Accelerator where there is a huge amount of =
public/government land (this was years ago) so I could set it out in =
nature to film it. About 5 minutes into setting my things out on a rock =
outcropping a very agitated guard came by to question me at length. I =
was hopelessly naive about what I was doing and would get permission =
next time. I am happy that the guard helped me realize that I could be =
considered a threat (probably was considered as such). He let me finish =
what I was doing as long as I did it in a timely manner and got the hell =
out of there. I had to check with him upon my departure so he knew I =
had left the area I was in. Pretty intense experience but a good one. =
I lecture my students about looking for permission if they are going to =
venture forth in this manner they can learn from my naivete. I also =
take time to discuss the nature of your work in public spaces because =
there are so many considerations for this (large installation). =20

I am happy I live in a country where people can move around so freely =
and do whatever they want but let's not forget that there are always =
boudaries so people don't get hurt. I hope the authorities aren't too =
hard on the student who pushed the fear button it seems like it was a =
good button to push (no one got hurt) just some bruised egos.

Mary O'Connell

Cindy Gatto on thu 26 dec 02


Hi All:
We are back on clayart now after a long 32 day fair in Union
Square park. Upon reading a post from Mary on the fear incident I was sort of
put off by her applauding this lunatic student that did this, also the fact
that she said no one was hurt. Maybe no one was hurt physically but plenty of
people did get hurt. Us for one took a beating from it. Directly upstairs
from the train station where this was done was the Union Square Holiday
Market, which happens to be the 32 day fair that we had been doing. The
vendors at that fair pay a tremendous amount to be there so they count on
everyday of sales to make it. This year we had been plagued with rain snow
and extreme cold so the fear incident on top of all that was definitely a
needless and very hurtful incident. This was extremely hurtful in that the
entire station was shut down all day which in turn killed the foot traffic
which in turn killed sales. So when I hear someone praise this lunatic fear
person, yes, it gets my back up so to say. I guess this is my way of getting
some steam off. There are always repercussions for our actions and those of
others. So think first.
Thank You
Mark Petrin
The Mudpit
228 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn NY 11206
718-218-9424
mudpitnyc@aol.com
www.mudpitnyc.com

Philip Poburka on thu 26 dec 02


Dear Mark,

How do we understand the closeing of the Station to have
been attributed to, be the fault of, or be a hurt done to
others by the Artist?

The Artist 'closed' the Station?

And hence hurt 'sales'?

Can you tell me 'how' this may be understood to be so?

Forgive me, but I seem to be naive in these matters, and
imagined, or was given to understand, that the 'authorities'
had closed off the space for a little while.

How does the 'Artist' in this instance, become accountable
for any number of reactions by others?

At what point may 'others' assume some responsibility for
themselves, for their actions?

Can we not argue that the Artist's installation was a
'reaction'?

May we instead allow 'reactions' to be seen as 'actions'?

Regardless of who has them, does them?


Or... tell me how it is his 'fault'?

Thanks!

Phil
Las Vegas




----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Gatto"



Hi All:
We are back on clayart now after a long 32 day
fair in Union
Square park. Upon reading a post from Mary on the fear
incident I was sort of
put off by her applauding this lunatic student that did
this, also the fact
that she said no one was hurt. Maybe no one was hurt
physically but plenty of
people did get hurt. Us for one took a beating from it.
Directly upstairs
from the train station where this was done was the Union
Square Holiday
Market, which happens to be the 32 day fair that we had been
doing. The
vendors at that fair pay a tremendous amount to be there so
they count on
everyday of sales to make it. This year we had been plagued
with rain snow
and extreme cold so the fear incident on top of all that was
definitely a
needless and very hurtful incident. This was extremely
hurtful in that the
entire station was shut down all day which in turn killed
the foot traffic
which in turn killed sales. So when I hear someone praise
this lunatic fear
person, yes, it gets my back up so to say. I guess this is
my way of getting
some steam off. There are always repercussions for our
actions and those of
others. So think first.
Thank You
Mark Petrin
The Mudpit
228 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn NY 11206
718-218-9424
mudpitnyc@aol.com
www.mudpitnyc.com

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Mayssan Shora Farra on sun 29 dec 02


Hello all
As I understand it. this artist and a friend/helper took bags with the
boxes in them. took time to tape them in place and to take pictures and
then hurry back to school to do the presentation.

I am sure taping 37 boxes in place and then taking pictures after that
took time, Yet no one objected or stopped or approached him about it. So
his presence there had prevented any suspicion, because he was there to
answer any questions.

So I think his only mistake was not taping an artists statement too with
his name to help with any further questions.

This fear we have nowadays is of the unknown. and our freedom of speach is
guaranteed but not anonymously.

Best wishes for a glorious new year

Mayssan
in WV where the sun is shining and hope is btight

http://clayvillepottery.com