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Art

Waterboarding "Thrill Ride" Hits Coney Island: Political Art?

Aug 8 2008 - 9:00am by CitizenSugar

Folks trekking out to Coney Island are looking for a little summer diversion involving water — but the newest attraction to grace the boardwalk takes that expectation and adds a political message. Called the "Waterboard Thrill Ride," the sideshow is decorated with SpongeBob, advertises that "it dont [sic] Gitmo better" and charges $1 for a look through a barred window onto what appears to be an interrogation scene.

Robots portray a prisoner and an interrogator. After the dollar is paid, the lights come on and the prisoner begins to convulse violently as water is poured on his face. The artist behind the installation says its aim is to provoke people into thinking critically about the technique. He says, "robot waterboarding became a way of exploring the issue without doing any harm. It's putting a unique experience on the table. And it doesn't take a great leap of the imagination to look in there and say: 'That's really what's going on? That's crazy.'" And who doesn't fancy a little torture demo with their corndog?

There's a video of the "ride" in action, including reaction from some bystanders, some of whom hadn't heard of waterboarding before. In that sense, is it a decent public service — or does it turn a serious message into a silly sideshow?

Waterboarding "Thrill Ride" Hits Coney Island: Political Art?

It's political art for sure. It's visually designed to blend in and it causes people to think.

Dumb! It's more serious than a boardwalk attraction, and using Spongebob lures kids.

It's just a gimmick. I don't think it will change minds either way.

Other. I'll pay my buck in the comments.

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New York City Plans to Gain $55 Million on Waterfall Art

Jun 27 2008 - 3:00am by LibertySugar

213 Views - 19 comments

New York City Plans to Gain $55 Million on Waterfall Art

I'm sure I don't "get" most esteemed works of art, but I'm still undecided about whether my reaction to New York City's waterfall art project is "wow" or "huh?" Four waterfalls designed by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson will show around NYC until October. Three cascade into the East River and New York Harbor from scaffolding towers, while the fourth falls from the Brooklyn Bridge. Money-wiz Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the art will create $55 million in economic activity for his city (it cost $15.5 million). In a truly American fashion, companies will offer $10 boat tours of the falls, as well as a $50,000 Waterfall Package dripping with luxuries like a private boat tour, champaign, diamonds, dinner for two, and a luxury hotel stay.

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Dead Wrong? Singer Ashanti Uses Murder to Promote Single

Jun 11 2008 - 12:15pm by LibertySugar

624 Views - 33 comments

R&B singer Ashanti has taken her controversially violent music video, featuring an aggrieved woman murdering her lover, to the next level. Fans can now send friends or enemies "gotchagrams," which pose as newscasts forecasting the recipient's imminent murder, which is inspired by Ashanti's video. Check out the graphic video that came with my "copycat" threat. 1699634 If you're on the receiving end, you get the video delivered in a pretty personal email from "Detective James Nicholas," who urges you to contact him (via an actual phone number) immediately because your life may be in danger.

Read Related: Art Ashanti Check This Crime Murder Music

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33 comments

Picture It: National Cathedral Gets a Make Over

May 11 2008 - 11:00am by LibertySugar

225 Views - 13 comments

Picture It: National Cathedral Gets a Make Over

Here are some luminous pictures from the first showing of a new art project "Lighting to Unite" — a light show designed to ignite national and global unity. The project uses the National Cathedral in Washington, DC as its canvas. Gerry Hofsetter, a Swiss artist, is responsible for these images, which include stars, human faces, and a mysterious woman in a kimono.

Read Related: Art Gerry Hofsetter National Cathedral

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New Banksy Work Appears. Vandalism, Statement, or Art?

Mar 5 2008 - 10:54am by CitizenSugar

8,276 Views - 111 comments

New Banksy Work Appears. Vandalism, Statement, or Art?

A new work by artist Banksy appeared on a wall today in London. The mural shows a child raising a plastic shopping bag as a flag. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will have to force retailers to reduce the use of plastic bags if they do not take action voluntarily.Banksy is a pseudonym for a well-known British graffiti artist. He is known for his beautifully detailed, unauthorized works, which usually include a deeper social message. One work, painted on the Palestinian side of the wall surrounding the West Bank, shows a trompe l'oeil image of a hole broken through the wall and a little boy on the other side. In his manifesto, Banksy points to a graffiti campaign waged in 1974 against the wrongful imprisonment of a man named George Davis. The omnipresent tags reading "G. Davis Is Innocent" brought the matter to the attention of the Home Secretary, who re-examined the case, ultimately leading to Davis's release. Though his work as an artist isn't entirely legal, his talent has inspired fans, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, to spend $2 million on his work. My question is this: Just because it's well-done and created with a higher purpose, is that enough to elevate Banksy's work from common vandalism? At what point does art eclipse illegality? How would you classify his work?

Source

New Banksy Work Appears. Vandalism, Statement, or Art?

Vandalism. It might look nice, but any unauthorized tagging is illegal.

Statement. It's a revolutionary act. Putting the images in public elevates the discourse.

Art. Where it occurs is irrelevant. The meaning is in the skillful execution.

A combination. I'll nail it down in the comments.

Other. Perhaps none of the above. Let me tell you. . . .

Read Related: Art Banksy Citizen Poll Eco London

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111 comments

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Art

Waterboarding "Thrill Ride" Hits Coney Island: Political Art?

New York City Plans to Gain $55 Million on Waterfall Art

Dead Wrong? Singer Ashanti Uses Murder to Promote Single

Picture It: National Cathedral Gets a Make Over

New Banksy Work Appears. Vandalism, Statement, or Art?

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