Odd Central Park Barbaro Memorial

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

It's no chocolate Jesus; that's for sure.

I don't like it, but then again I am all for people being able to do whatever they want with their art -- whether it be chocolate Jesus, pubic hair embedded in soap, or whatever else they can dream up, it'd be silly of me to champion their right to offend anyone else and then get mad over this.

[golfer]

I think in situations like this, even registering complaints just gives the art and the artist more exposure, which is what they want to begin with. It might be better to just ignore. In fact, if it wasn't for this thread, how many of us would have seen or heard about this piece of "art"?

[fpsoxfan]

I wonder if more people would be upset if they did a "Heath Ledger laying face down naked surrounded by pills sculpture" It would be in about the same taste.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I went to the gallery sponsoring the artist late yesterday afternoon, but it was closed.

It's a small gallery with what appears to be one main room, with the Brittany Spears perversion immediately visible from the street, and the Paris Hilton abomination not far away. Both of these disgraces were assembled by the artist in question.

I could see a few mounted paintings, none of which inspired "emotion."

Of particular note was the large painting with a woman sleeping on a chair, legs spread - bush in plain sight -- with a banana being offered to her by a gorilla, of whom only his arm was visible. The people in the lower right corner of the painting were holding aloft signs with numbers on them, ranging from 5 to 9.

The small painting of a rooster looked reasonable, but probably I wasn't looking closely enough for the "artist's message."

Looks like the ideal place to make a Thoroughbred racing "statement."

Oh good. You got your fine art fix for the day.....

[GenuineRisk]

Not defending, 'cause Daniel Edwards isn't really my thing, but I think the Brittany piece is attempting to say something about society's obsession with celebrities (though why he chose one who clearly pushes for the publicity, I don't know, unless he's trying to also say something about celebrities offering up their private lives for public consumption). Likewise the oh-so-classy bronzed Suri Cruise first bowel movement. The Hillary piece I think is trying to comment on how society doesn't regard powerful women as sexual. The Ted Williams thing, I have no idea. Whatever.

Maybe he should do a piece of himself sculpting the Barbaro piece, with a dresser nearby and people leaving money on it. Then he could say something about artists whoring for publicity.

Well, judging from the other pieces that have gone on display in Central Park South, most people will ignore it, and the kids will use it as a jungle gym.

[ninetoone]

The Suri turd doubles as a nice self-portrait for his collection.

[booner]

I don't like it.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Well, judging from the other pieces that have gone on display in Central Park South, most people will ignore it, and the kids will use it as a jungle gym.

I know what you're saying but the whole if we ignore it it'll go away thought... that can be a little dangerous, no?

Some people complain, call racing a dying sport. We wonder how to bring in new fans, how to change the way it's perceived.....

The only effects of this damned thing / statue / whatever will be a. to give the "artist" more press and b. to perpetuate the thought that racing equals cruelty.

A passerby who doesn't know, who has heard the name Barbaro but who didn't follow his long struggle... I think there's more of a chance they'll walk by, take one look at this thing and be swayed.

So yeah, we can ignore it but the more we don't take any chance to put it right, the longer we let verious groups talk about horse racing while we sit back and do nothing?

Well... it just seems like this would be the perfect opportunity to do something, anything.

I don't know what exactly..... a fundraiser for various thoroughbred retirement charities in the park the day before? Something like that? Something positive?

Forgive me for being in So Cal and not knowing off the top of my head which NY track is open then but a Meet Funny Cide day? (I'm just trying to think of possibilities here)

Some little boost to give racing some positive spin.....

Rambling... sorry. It just makes me sick.

[Danzig]

like they say, one mans trash is another mans treasure. i've seen plenty of 'art' that i would be hard pressed to acknowledge as such.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I know what you're saying but the whole if we ignore it it'll go away thought... that can be a little dangerous, no?

Some people complain, call racing a dying sport. We wonder how to bring in new fans, how to change the way it's perceived.....

The only effects of this damned thing / statue / whatever will be a. to give the "artist" more press and b. to perpetuate the thought that racing equals cruelty.

A passerby who doesn't know, who has heard the name Barbaro but who didn't follow his long struggle... I think there's more of a chance they'll walk by, take one look at this thing and be swayed.

So yeah, we can ignore it but the more we don't take any chance to put it right, the longer we let verious groups talk about horse racing while we sit back and do nothing?

Well... it just seems like this would be the perfect opportunity to do something, anything.

I don't know what exactly..... a fundraiser for various thoroughbred retirement charities in the park the day before? Something like that? Something positive?

Forgive me for being in So Cal and not knowing off the top of my head which NY track is open then but a Meet Funny Cide day? (I'm just trying to think of possibilities here)

Some little boost to give racing some positive spin.....

Rambling... sorry. It just makes me sick.

No need to apologize. I see your points, but, as many people on this board have said, racing doesn't need or depend on fans; it depends on gambling money, and, judging from many posts also on this site, many gamblers couldn't care less about the thrill of the sport; only on the odds of the races (I'm not criticizing, just observing- the comments from some of the DTers on the thread about Curlin coming back in '08 come to mind). So the sport will be in no danger from this, anymore than Christianity was threatened by Chocolate Jesus (not that that kept some right-wingers from throwing fits anyway).

I love horseracing for the thrill of it, but honestly, I'm not encouraging friends to watch the sport because I tire of my favorite horses being retired and rushed off to the breeding shed- I don't particularly want to share that disappointment. So, while I think the Barbaro statue is a stupid attempt to stir up controversy, I don't see it doing any damage to racing in any noticeable way. Racing does a fine enough job on its own insuring it stays a fringe sport to the casual fan. The statue won't affect that.

And honestly, to fully get it, the viewer will have to stop and read the little plaque that always accompanies the art at Central Park South, and frankly, I don't think the average American has the attention span. And the print is kind of tiny.

But like I said- good post, and good points. Generally, when I've had discussions with people who feel racing is cruel, I ask if they eat meat (usually the answer is yes), and then go into a graphic description of how feed animals are kept. That usually shuts them up.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by golfer

I think in situations like this, even registering complaints just gives the art and the artist more exposure, which is what they want to begin with.

Exactly, which is why I said a silent email-a-thon. Don't need the haha "artist" or even the gallery playing the role of victim...