Call to boycott artist's 'dead teddy bear' show (IT'S THE ARTS ALERT)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | January 24, 2003 | Nigel Bunyan

[MadIvan]

I don't think he needs psychiatric help, I know he needs psychiatric help. Just a heads up - this fellow will probably be the darling of your arts crowd too in short order.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Augggghh!

The horror. The horror!

[Mr. Silverback]

I don't think he needs psychiatric help, I know he needs psychiatric help. Just a heads up - this fellow will probably be the darling of your arts crowd too in short order.

True, but he's not as nuts as the folks who gave the guy a huge cash prize for "Room with lights blinking on and off" or whatever he called that piece of crap.

[freedomson]

I think what the artist is trying to say is, that all art is garbage.

Mangled stuffed animals, the Mona Lisa or the Sistine Chapel, it's all the same rubbish.

Art is devalued. Wow, yeah, really makes me think.

[weegee]

That's nothing.

There are people that support this bit of "performance art" as it was called (and have the audacity to link Christianity with the WTC attack).

Roast Attendees Take Umbrage With Stunt By Penn & Teller -article on their sacrilegious stunt

[Servant of the Nine]

I don't think he needs psychiatric help, I know he needs psychiatric help. Just a heads up - this fellow will probably be the darling of your arts crowd too in short order.

Lighten up.

Monday night on "Monster Garage" on the Discovery Channel in prime time, they threw a teddy bear into a Tree Chipper.

These are presumably the artists Teddy Bears.
Slashing toys is not sacreligious, nor does it mock, humiliate or incite to violence against any individual or group.

Let's save our outrage for important things, or at least semi-important things.

So9

[Paul Atreides]

All art isn't rubbish. Just modern art.

[valkyrieanne]

Wonder if he's the recipient of any state "grants for the arts."

[lonewacko_dot_com]

Anyone who paints the sky green and the grass blue should be shot.

[weegee]

The "boycott" of the charred teddy bear exhibit reminds me of Monty Burns' stunt on the Simpsons where he gave Homer $27,000 to buy a mint Amazing Spider-Man #1 comic book from the comics guy and then Homer proceeded to art the comic he paid for.

Such things happen in the art world all the time; someone bought a Picasso print and cut it into 1 inch squares for sale for a fraction of what the original cost. Look at celebrity clothing auctions (costumes/uniforms) are also cut into 1"square and smaller pieces.

The buyer can do with the items what he wants. If tax dollars are paying for this art, then tax payers have a right to be outraged. It's "dumb" art to be sure.

On the whole, "teddy bear" enthusiasts should find bigger things to get outraged about in this world.

I saw an article on a Yao Ming fansite that took offense (rightly so) at Shaq's pseudo-Chinese insult (ESPN used this audio even in their buildup to the confrontational game). It's trash-talking but it's also racist (if a white player gave some quote in ebonics he'd be strung up by the press). That said, the guy's website obsessed over every attempt by a player to get the ball from Yao (play by play details of Yao's role in every game).

Ask Shatner said to the Trekkies on SNL: "Get a life!"

[mystery-ak]

OMG...has the world gone mad!...first Snuggles now this.

FREE SNUGGLES

[Paul Atreides]

He would have to be. Not many people are going to fork out their own money to support a producer of such rubbish.

[MikalM]

Sounds like Mr. Shearon has major childhood issues that need to be dealt with in a more constructive manner...

This is stupid, ugly and cruel.

[Happygal]

Slashing toys is not sacreligious, nor does it mock, humiliate or incite to violence against any individual or group.

Absolutely agreed. But that guy who puts human corpses in formaldahyde and puts them on show isn't hurtin' no one either, eh?
Nor the artist who paints abortions, eh?
Indeed the one who made a packet from showing a filthy bedroom was an 'artist' too.

WOW...such art! Such freedom of expression.

These people get PUBLIC (yeah, remember the tax payer?) funding for producing rank awful CRAPOLA!!!
AND we, are supposed to stand up and applaud????

Me arse!

(BTW..you try to take my childhood comforter..my bear 'Little Ted' and pull his head off..YOU are in trouble, Bubba!!! He's MY bear, and no-one touches the memories he instills when I pick him up!!!)

[butter pecan fan]

Actually, I think it's simpler than that. Here is my interpretation of what the artist is trying to say, and I'm pretty certain it's 100% correct:

"Boy, I sure would like some media attention, some fame and maybe some money. As much money as I can get. What can I do that's sick, outrageous and "new" enough to attract attention, without putting me in jail? I know! That's it! I'll mutilate teddy bears!!!"

[ConservativeConvert]

If I stick my finger up my ass and wipe it on a canvas how much money could I make? Any bidders?

[Happygal]

Have you contacted the arts council in Europe? I'm sure they'd be interested!

[ConservativeConvert]

LOL!!! Awesome...I love it! I'll give 'em a call in the morning...that's when I do my best work!

[Happygal]

No need to thank me.

Please don't send me an invite to yer first 'opening', however! ;-)