Years ago I saw an exhibition whose center piece was a plaster cast of a
male elephant. It was in a high-ceilinged loft in Soho. The elephant filled
almost the entire space. Around the perimeter were drawings, photos and
maquettes of the scafolding--the artist had managed to convince the
authorities in one of the African parks to let him anaesthetize an
elephant, prop it up in a life-like pose, and take the casts. The elephant
was unharmed. The gallery hoped to raise the money for an edition in bronze
that could live outdoors, so it staged a cocktail party. The partygoers
were almost pressed against the plaster, the space was so small.
The gallery owner was a prick, but known to give good parties--I didn't
expect much. It was overwhelming, and wonderful. I don't remember the
sculptor's name--he was Italian, if that helps. And I have no idea if he
ever got his bronze.
Mark
At 10:06 AM 3/3/2005, you wrote:
>Of course, it wouldn't get the 'press,' but just the drawings, etc., the
>plans, without the actual work, would maybe be good. And I do like the
>idea of going somewhere to enhance what really needs it, Mark. I mean, it
>would be something to see them draping Fallujah....
>
>Doug
>On 1-Mar-05, at 3:30 PM, Mark Weiss wrote:
>
>>May you be a model of humility. I think they wouldn't get it.
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>At 05:19 PM 3/1/2005, you wrote:
>>> > How about not "enhancing"--or piggybacking--on the allure of the already
>>> > wondrous and instead draping a landfill, or a favela, so as to create
>>> > beauty, and economic advantage, where few see either? Would that be
>>> too big
>>> > an imaginative leap for the happy pair, or would they be in danger of not
>>> > making as much money or as many headlines? How about draping an oil
>>> field?
>>> > Or a lifeless river? Or a battlefield? There are plenty to choose from.
>>> >
>>> > Mark
>>>en·hance (e˜n-ha˜ns')
>>>tr.v., -hanced, -hanc·ing, -hanc·es.
>>>
>>>1. To make greater, as in value, beauty, or effectiveness; augment.
>>>
>>>I am sorry Mark but I must shy from evening consider the largeness of your
>>>vision of potential globally enhanced works - I am afraid I am back into the
>>>beauty of small things. WCW's plums in the fridge are so worn out from
>>>appearing in standard American Literature Anthologies, I have wrapped them
>>>over their white saucer in a slightly foggy Saran wrap - just enough to let
>>>the eye know they are still plums. People who come to my fridge compare this
>>>enviormental act of bringing a great poem back down to size as comparable to
>>>German trade shops who sold Indigo to Napoleon's soldiers with which to dye
>>>their white uniforms. The use of the dark dye helped reduce the sight of
>>>demoralizing blood stains from battles in which their comrades had been
>>>lost.
>>>
>>>I and my plums have yet to receive a visit from the lawyers of the WCW
>>>estate.
>>>
>>>Stephen V
>>>Blog: http://stephenvincent.durationpress.com
>>
>
>
>Douglas Barbour
>Department of English
>University of Alberta
>Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E5 Canada
>(780) 436 3320
>http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/dbhome.htm
>
>care to be more
>precise about whatever
>it is you are
>saying, I said
>
> Bill Manhire
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