The Public Easel by Rainbow Bright, YellowBear
June 26th, 2007 9:29 PM
We decided that we should capitalize on the large throngs of humanity, possitive vibrations and generalized insanity induced by the Haight St. Fair to do a little public artwork with our fellow citizens. We set out in the AM and got ourselves some prime realestate on the steps of McDonalds (After 45 angry minutes trying to find parking and nearly aborting the whole mission). We came equipped with a home fabricated cardboard easel, two blank posterboard canvases, and a large box of paint markers, pens and pencils. We just plopped outselves down and started to work, figuring that if we got the ball rolling a little bit our fellow city dwellers would jump right in.
With very little encouragement tons of people started comming up and drawing, chatting, making odd looking faces at us. The feedback was so positive that we actually had to flip one of the posterboards over and let them go at the reverse side after they had both filled up. We weren't about to tell someone that they couldn't draw anymore. Who are we to shut down creativity?
I was struck by the variety of different responses that we got from the passers by. Some people looked at us with contempt and kept walking (perhaps even more briskly than before), others would peek over and give us a long glance, slowing down a little bit but kept on moving. The curiosity in these people was very easy to spot, we could see their desire for craziness leaking out of them. We would call out to them: "You sir! You want to do public art, I can see the longing in your eyes, you slowed down to look, you should add!!" This strategy worked almost without fail. People respond very positively to being noticed and engaged on an individual level. The final group of people that we encountered is what I can only describe as the "sf0" sort of people. These people would run up to us from across the street with huge eyes and broad smiles: "Drawing!!! Really!?!?! OH MY GOODNESS YES!!!" Most of these people were nice enough to sit with us, chat with us, ask why we were doing this etc... We had numerous people that would sit and chat and participate for a full hour or more.
But the bizarre responses seemed to be the most fulilling. We had one woman say "Hell naw" and then slap herself on the ass before adding "How bout you draw that!" I told her that I didn't think it would fit, but that I would try. A different woman got irrationally angry and screamed for us to "Go F*@$ Ourselves" and then she advised us that we should "Eat Her C*#$." Which is a most unusual way to respond to someone who has asked you if you would like to do some drawing.
It is clear that our country (even the beautiful San Francisco) has become too devious and comercialized, it proved difficult for some people to believe that we wern't charging them for anything, asking them for anything, trying to sell them anything, or converting them to anything. Some people would immediatly say "no", and we would tell them they could draw anything that they wanted and we only wanted their creativity. At this point they would look confused, walk over to us slowly with a quasi circuitous route, and say "You really just want me to draw something?" and with a big smile they hear "Yes sir/ma'am we're just doing community art! Add anything you want. No rules" then we hear "Cool, thanks."
Overall it proved to be an awesome way to spend the afternoon!
Tons of great memories, and made even better now that our walls have a couple sweet new additions. If our healthy assortment of photos isn't enough for you, the entire affair is also up on flickr
Preparing Our Easel At Home
Quality Cardboard Construction
Haight Street Fair Poster '07
Our Target Intersection
Golden Gate Park Entrance
Lookin Down The Haight
Setting Up
Open For Buisness
The Beginning Of Drawing #1
The First Crowd Arrives
This gentleman on the left was an infamous tagger in Brooklyn (Rockaway/Brownsville) in the 1970's with the sig Kevon. We were honored that it was on our drawing that he declared his real name for the first time publicly. It was very important to him and we were moved. In his own words..."Cool Style". Respect to Kevon/Brooklyn.
Moo!
We love the blue cow.
Need A Friend?
We Can Help...
I like the cool faces in the lower right.
And the kid who's eyes are on fire.
Collecting Random Objects
This fellow was out on his mission just to have a good time. He ended up getting a kazoo and a little star from us. I especially like the purple mask!
Mmmm....lollipops!
Drawing #1 Complete
The Beginning of Drawing #2
#2 Is Starting To Fill In Nicely
Business Time
"Professional Partiers" only.
If You're Going To San Francisco, Be Sure To Wear A Flower In Your Hair...
While she was drawing, this little girl's mother explained to her..."Honey, it's impolite to tag over someone else's work." I love SF.
This is our friend Sam
"Did You Run The Gorilla Costume Race today?" "Nope, I just had it lying around and thought it would be fun to dress up..."
He Gave Us His Busness Card...
"Dr. Darwin Depulso, Defender of the Darwinian Doctrine. No Books, No quotes, No theories, Just a talking man-ape/ What the people need"
#2 Is Coming Along Nicely
Where The Grapes At?
Hooray, Friends!
Much to my delight, Paradis, Laura, and Eliza came strollingup the street and gladly added to our artwork. Thanks ladies!
The Crowd Thickens
This guy asked what "the rules" were over & over...
Finally we convinced him that there were none and he wrote "Fuck Bush" enormously across the canvas, and caually sauntered down the block. After getting halfway down, he turned around and walked back to point out to us that it was a double-entendre. :-)
Raptor Party!! + A Flaming Owl!
Canvas #2 Finishing Touches
Art Cannot Be Contained On The Canvas
He Was Feeling The Spirit.
Drawing #3 Begins
This is actually the reverse side of the first drawing, but the people demanded more art. We had to comply.
Fighting to get in prime position.
Emily stops by for some art....
and some jack daniels, of course!
Please Note & Respect The "Cyclops Laser Bunny" At the Top...
In addition to the sweet face in the middle
Larry
This fine gent stopped me on the sidewalk and asked to have his picture taken. He introduced himself as "Larry" and made me promise not to forget. He may have been living a rough life, but the twinkle in his eye was still present. The life in his eyes was amazing actually. I think he would love to know that all of you folks were looking at his picture.
Jesus Loves All of Us...
Oh! There's Jesus Now...
He Found A New Friend Named YellowBear
We Felt Sort Of Famous.
This situation was strange. The mystery man in the blue sweatshirt asked our friend Mike to take a picture of he and I using his phone. This was wierd in itself, but the really funny part is that he is looking straight over at YellowBear's camera. Wish we could see his photo, perhaps now set as the wallpaper on his phone??
The Perpetrators
A Pretty Photo That I Felt Needed Inclusion
Sort of a nice summary, although neither of us were drinking Tecate...odd.
My Favorite Photo From The Day...
These shoes got painted this afternoon as well. I love the the composition and brightness of the colors.
Raise It Up!!
Victory...A Job Well Done!
#1
#2
#3
24 vote(s)
Ziggy C.
5
K!
5
Lank
5
anna one
5
Saul Z
5
Fonne Tayne
5
IntermezzoBeard
5
rongo rongo
5
Ian Kizu-Blair
5
Blue
5
Sean Mahan
5
Jellybean of Thark
5
Jeremy Cezanne
5
Tøm
5
Ben Yamiin
5
Bex.
5
the band-aid bandit
5
SNORLAX
5
Malaysian Eddy
5
Ladybug
5
Rubin Starset
5
The Vixen
5
Juliette
5
Tricia Tanaka
Terms
(none yet)14 comment(s)
tagging etiquette... doesn't get any better than that
"teach the children"
You elicited a great public response! Art for all!
Wow, that looks like so much fun. I like "Raptor Party" on #2 and "Over 9000" on #3. This is one of the best Aesthematics completions I've ever seen! It really is public art.
America makes me sad...
...this completion makes me happy!!!
YEAH!!!
That was really cool, I only wish I would have gone that far and seen you, so I too could draw, but the crowds were too much for me
Thanks. I'm honored that you think so, sean
Wow, thank you for all the love & nice words. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside
And All it took was a giant pad of paper a bunch of markers some cardboard and an afternoon.
That is why…
SFØ RØCKS!!!
Yeah I had a similar experience. My friend prodded me to pass out strawberries to people at the Haight Street Fair. At first I was like "why?" And my friend replied, "because, it's a nice thing to do." To which I replied, "oh"....People also asked me if I was charging for the strawberries. Some asked if there was something in the strawberries. My goal was to give out every single strawberry. I think I got down to one pint of strawberries which I almost just threw away but then saw a homeless man and offered it to him to which he replied, "yes, thank you so very very much."
Mr.'s Mahan & Kizu-Blair -
At the time you posted your comments I forgot to mention how much I appreciated them. Encouragement of this sort from so high above is very flattering. And it makes the need to raise the bar even greater. We won't let you down.
"You two are on a tear of greatness."
So who the fuck joined in later?
I love this. Wonderfully done.