Canadian artist Cesar Saez proposed to build at 300-meter banana that would float in the air... in Texas. He needed over a million dollars to do this and the Canada Council for the Arts granted him $55,000. Since he was never able to raise the rest of the money — duh! — he never has to build the banana, and he gets to keep the $55,000.
When asked about this failed banana investment, Carole Breton, of the Canada Council, explained, "We understand that sometimes, for all sorts of reasons, there is no creation at the end . . . this is money for research, not for results."
But without the grant how could Canada lead the world in floating banana research?
If it were a floating banana peel, they could say that practical jokes are just bigger in Texas...
Oh, if only Canada would fund my hovering kumquat research! We could provide shade for Reno!
We could have giant floating manatees to commemorate the Hindenberg! That way when they hit towers in say, New Jersey, the radio broadcasts could say, "Oh, the huge manatees!!!"
Sorry about that last one...still waiting on the coffee...
It's conceptual art. Making actual sculptures is so yesterday.
Clearly, Canada purchased the idea of a sculpture, which is superior to mere three dimensionality, a limiting format arising from a racist heierarchical dead white male hegemony.
So, if I understand this correctly, Canada managed to ensure that even if this "public art" project had actually been finished, it would have been inflicted on people 1000 miles away? I wonder whether I could get my city to ship some of its public art projects 1000 miles away.
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9 comments:
But without the grant how could Canada lead the world in floating banana research?
If it were a floating banana peel, they could say that practical jokes are just bigger in Texas...
Oh, if only Canada would fund my hovering kumquat research! We could provide shade for Reno!
We could have giant floating manatees to commemorate the Hindenberg! That way when they hit towers in say, New Jersey, the radio broadcasts could say, "Oh, the huge manatees!!!"
Sorry about that last one...still waiting on the coffee...
It's conceptual art.
Making actual sculptures is so yesterday.
Clearly, Canada purchased the idea of a sculpture, which is superior to mere three dimensionality, a limiting format arising from a racist heierarchical dead white male hegemony.
Cast off your chains!
My wife's an artist. I wish somebody would give us 50,000 dollars.
I love the clip, from one of his early, funny, films.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHzc62xmfow
Is this the same Canada that we as americans are all supposed to aspire to be? Reason #463 to say "No thanks."
Human Rights Commission is reason number 1.
So, if I understand this correctly, Canada managed to ensure that even if this "public art" project had actually been finished, it would have been inflicted on people 1000 miles away? I wonder whether I could get my city to ship some of its public art projects 1000 miles away.
Of course Doug. Would you want to look at a giant floating banana every day?
I bet they paid him 55,000 dollars to persuade him to build it someplace else.
Thanks for the clip. It's been a long time since I last watched Sleeper (or Bananas, for that matter).
"That's a big chicken" is officially the catch-phrase of the week.
I'm going to try the banana threat on my hometown, but I'll offer to cancel the project for only $10K.
What a bargain!
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