Mere days after Burn Unit and I posted a DIY pattern for making mini-sails, I heard from someone who is organizing MIT's Public Art: A Fun Introduction who plans to include a reference to our pattern and has invited me to show up with copies. I was delighted that our task had been discovered, and realized that we had inadvertently performed Free Art.

But, I wanted to take it a bit further. Plus, Reverse Art Theft left me a tad disappointed that the inserted object had been detected and removed so quickly. So, to further publicize the fact that everyone can now make their own Tiny Sail, I installed a display at the MIT Wiesner Student Art Gallery. This gallery is often nearly empty. To fill the art vacuum, I left a group of sails on a sort of pedestal and then staged two sails going "over the wall" of the gallery.


Alexander Calder, the sculptor, called his large pieces such as the Great Sail "Stabiles" because unlike his enormously famous "Mobiles," they had no moving parts. But now, like a meme, the Great Sail has been set free to be transmitted over the Internet and can be physically realized using only office supplies. I hope to see many sails replicating, turning up in new places, and moving as if blown by a virtual wind all around the world---you're all invited to join in! I'll add you as a collaborator if you assist with this diaspora.