Slog - Comments on On Making Pigs Go Boom

Comment by Raindog

Raindog — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:40:24 -0800

Seriously, man. Other cities have cool animals, like the pandas in DC and the crabs in Baltimore. OK, crabs aren't cool but they're better than pigs because they walk sideways and have claws. Oh well, at least pigs are not fictional animals like "seahawks" or "mariners".

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:41:45 -0800

I've seen the angel wings and jester's collar/hat one on my way to and from the office. I've not seen the one with a Thanksgiving dinner on it's it (but have seen a Carmen Miranda-style fruit basket hat one....)

While I enjoyed the piece, it did come close to advocating an act of terrorism (albeit for a worthy cause). Have you been contacted by the Ministry of Homeland Security, yet?

Comment by Essex

Essex — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:43:17 -0800

wish I had the money to buy one - love them

they raise lots of money for the Market incl. the free clinic - one of the best in Seattle

that is the one all the low paid folks at the Stranger go to - and other low paid metro Seattle people go to - excellent AIDS resources

you folks are getting bitchy about everything it seems - of course if they were pairs of fucking pigs someone there would make an art film and cash in

Comment by David Schmader

David Schmader — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:51:02 -0800

I wish you had the money to buy all of them.

I'm glad the pigs accomplish something positive. Sometimes bad art makes good charity. But it's still bad art.

As for "if they were pairs of fucking pigs someone there would make an art film and cash in": sing it, sister. Charles Mudede has been swaggering around like the fucking Monopoly man (complete with bags bearing dollar signs) since landing that cash cow (cash horse?) Zoo. (Sorry to put you on public blast, Charles, but really, that floor-length, powder-blue mink is just too much.)

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:56:16 -0800

They are beyond hideous. What is it with Seattle art, anyway? Regardless of what 'it' is, it always seems to be some half-ass shitty fuckin' vomit fest.

An array of large ugly pigs, industrial bamboo, giant hunks of metal that look like deformed noses, some rusty ass circle-looking-thingy, everything in Fremont, obnoxious (and thoughtless) aluminum catastrophes...ugh.

Comment by Angel

Angel — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:58:29 -0800

who ever said they, les cochons, were art - nobody I know - cute maaaybe

looking for art when there is no art sounds a bit like the fools game

I like the been there for decades giant brass pig at the entry to the market - yet - strange, have never heard any body refer to it as art

Comment by David Schmader

David Schmader — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:02:37 -0800

The pigs were displayed at Western Bridge gallery prior to installation.

And the pigs refer to themsevles as art on the Pigs on Parade 2007 website. (www.pigsonparade.org.)

Comment by Cat in Chicago

Cat in Chicago — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:04:31 -0800

Actually, I think we started that crap here with our cows on parade about ten years ago. Chicago used to be famous for its stock yards and I think that's where the cow thing came from -- but the next thing anybody knew, other cities started creating these mascot animal sculptures.

Comment by Cato the Younger Younger

Cato the Younger Younger — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:04:44 -0800

@ Mr Poe, Seattle Art? LOL!! There are very few examples. Point is Seattle has no class. We never dress well (and hippster grunge is not style, it is bad taste) and our art reflects that.

Comment by Garrett

Garrett — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:09:22 -0800

I will post on the vox blooger tomorrow, a carbon dust/pen & ink I've done of Ms. Rathke w/Kamera and bckgrnd. A photo was sent to me for reprodukition mock deadline stile by C. Hale via webtronics this time 'o6; I had enquired about free lance artwork for zinepaper of this space. At said prior meeting (accompanied by unidentified i no hoo u r) my writings were passed on without a glance stating "gary, the Music Editor position is very importatant. The Stranger is pretty much the voice for the music trends in the united states" -- so i leave i smnile i shake hands i am never contacted again i m not angry i am trying to live incide a box which looks like a vox incide a cage for behavior modification to study, with mere pellets of pet food, to proeduce Bar graph of sTroke reHabilitation.....

Comment by kid icarus

kid icarus — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:16:18 -0800

Lynnwood tried to bite a few years back with ROOSTERS. ROOSTERS PEOPLE!!

Comment by L-Train8

L-Train8 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:17:29 -0800

Cincinnati is ahead of us in pig theft and vandalism. Of their 200 pigs, six have disappeared, and dozens more damaged.

http://www.cincinnati.com/bigpiggig/please_dont_abuse.html

Comment by JC

JC — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:21:56 -0800

Your problem with the pigs is completely beyond me. They're slightly interesting landmarks - some better than others - on otherwise nondescript sidewalks and walkways. They raise money for a good cause. And its not like they're taking space away from the "good" art. What good art?

If you don't like them that's fine, they can be a bit annoying. But advocating blowing them up is like some stupid "morning zoo" shit, where the DJs think they're being all edgy and cool, but really they just look like idiots. Pipe bombs downtown... yeah, that's real cool. Anarchy, man. Now the new Fergie single...

Comment by JC

JC — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:26:42 -0800

And in regards to what #12 said, I'm actually proud to live in a city where things like this aren't vandalized all to shit, even if they are bad art.

Comment by angela garbes

angela garbes — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:28:59 -0800

i am not ashamed to say that i love the pig at qwest field. it is subtle; it looks like a football, like ye olde pigskin. i find it both adorable and clever. don't hate.

Comment by Levislade

Levislade — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:29:52 -0800

Garrett, I thought you were June Bee now? Have you reverted to your original moniker?

Comment by Carollani

Carollani — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:35:05 -0800

The pigs are hideous, period. The article about them was hilarious and summed up my feelings on the matter perfectly.

Comment by GoodGrief

GoodGrief — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:35:46 -0800

Typical Stranger bullshit elitism.

Sorry they didn't make the pigs out of "Caulk, spit, resin, vitreous china, rubber, colonoscopy wands, Jell-O" like your "genius" artist...

Comment by bing

bing — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:35:59 -0800

look on the plaques accompanying the pigs. which name is bigger--the corporate sponsor or the artist?

it's artvertising!

Comment by Rotten666

Rotten666 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:42:52 -0800

Stop hating. The pigs are goofy and silly. I don't think anyone is mistaking the pigs for high art. But as usual, some of the folks here are just too goddamn cool for the room. Are you really so fucking humorless that the pigs bother you? Lame.

Comment by C

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:48:21 -0800

Bunch of artier-than-thou grumpy hipster assholes. They're freaking pigs, created for a good cause. Believe it or not they make a lot of people smile, especially kids. Someone is going to actually blow one of these things up, possibly when a group of preschoolers is around it. That's gonna be real hilarious. I agree with the posts who likened this to morning zoo shit, and the rip on what the Stranger considers genius are. Look he's eating a sandwich on the toilet. GENIUS!

Comment by kid icarus

kid icarus — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:49:07 -0800

@16 - Hahahahaa!!!

Comment by Lars Nativson

Lars Nativson — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:55:16 -0800

what # 20 said.
Stop all the hating, you humorless fuckers!
It's soooo unSeattle because here no one hates and most of us never,ever express a negativce opinion about anything.

You fucking humorless snobs.

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:55:23 -0800

I'm sick of tripping over people (tourists, I hope) who stop suddenly to take pictures of the damn things.

Comment by Ms. Rathke

Ms. Rathke — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:03:13 -0800

#2 - There are no wings on the "jester" model - I added those. Trite elements like wings tend to recur and thus blur together in one's mind. I merely combined a few to make uber-kitsch pig.

Comment by -B-

-B- — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:04:37 -0800

Here in Vancouver we had bears, then whales. This city it seems can not have enough whales represented in murals and sculptures. We do have some great public art but in recent years the representation of cute public art has crept in. If you look into the reason most public art is chosen it is usually politically motivated. Now pigs, bears and whales might not seem politically motivated but these so called cute forms of art have shown up everywhere, it is part of a political climate where the masses are dummied up by lame public art that caters to a tourist mentality somewhat like junk food. They temporarily show up and next thing you know someone adopts a particular cute pig, whale or bear dressed as elvis or Darth Vader.

http://flickr.com/photos/tkcom/sets/72157594310080839/

Yes we had a Darth Vader bear. The worst thing is when they are placed in front of a recognized piece of public art as if to say "this is better or cuter".
Someone gave the go ahead to put the fiberglass figures where they are and tourists love em. They annoy most locals but the few that like them always seem to get their way and so they stay. Here in Vancouver a few whales and bears are still around.
But the more interesting sculptures in Vancouver was all done as an auction. One sculpture was sold for $1 million then dismantled.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/03/02/sculpture-auction.html?ref=rss

Luckily some sculpture remains from this auction and can be seen around the city.

Comment by Burgin

Burgin — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:05:48 -0800

I swear, Seattlites aren't happy unless they're bitching about something with a stick up their ass.

Comment by Ronald

Ronald — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:31:59 -0800

The pigs are disturbing, all right.
http://www.cornichon.org/000499.html

There's even one that sings opera:
http://www.cornichon.org/000502.html
Sheesh!

Comment by Katelyn

Katelyn — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:16:28 -0800

I like to hit them on the snout as I pass. It's really satisfying. *smack*

Comment by kid icarus

kid icarus — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:29:15 -0800

@29 - Especially the bobblehead one in front of the Ban Roll-on building. *whap*

Comment by David Schmader

David Schmader — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:37:34 -0800

From Slog tipper Nick, here's more exploding-pig art.

Comment by Kat

Kat — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:34:59 -0800

My eight year old started pretend shooting the pigs a while back. As we ride various buses down town, he crouches behind the window then fires off his air shotgun, shucks the shell, and squeals "Got another pig mom! Want pork chops for dinner?" He has gotten me into it as well. Great stress relief. Just lay off the "God Piggie". He is the gold plated pig on 2nd in the WAMU tower. According to my son, shooting him will incur the wrath of all the pigs...Its nice to know that others share our delusions.

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:39:21 -0800

No. 25: Uber-kitsch? As a daily (and involuntary) connoiseur of the porceine and fiberglass-tastic, I kinda thought you'd drawn an Everypig.

And I still maintain you're gonna be visited by Homeland Security.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:45:26 -0800

I've seen the wings one and the dinner one.

Why not just get a very large sledge hammer?

Comment by mattro2.0

mattro2.0 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:52:28 -0800

I was having a slice last night at pagliacci's on Broadway and overheard a man laughing at the drawing. His 4ish year old son inquired and he turned the paper to him and explained the drawing. The son wanted to know why one would want to blow up a pig, the dad replied, it's just a joke, it's funny. It truely was funny.

Comment by Dinesen

Dinesen — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:19:58 -0800

This was the best idea from an office of ten hard workers - a Dan Savage pig, with snout and teeth and tusks - might bring a million dollars so someone could blow it up.

How about a good blue print drawing ???

Comment by ROAG

ROAG — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:50:45 -0800

My kids love the pigs and probably get more joy from them than a Stranger art snob gets from, well, anything.

Comment by supergp

supergp — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:20:07 -0800

Comment by K X One

K X One — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:36:09 -0800

"Cincinnati is ahead of us in pig theft and vandalism. Of their 200 pigs, six have disappeared, and dozens more damaged."

WE MUST CLOSE THE PIG-DESTRUCTION GAP!

Comment by m

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:00:14 -0800

I hate the pigs too but I agree you're a bunch of snoots.... snoots bitchin about snoutart.

Comment by Kate

Kate — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:17:16 -0800

Amen to the article! Those pigs make me grind my teeth in disgust. If they were destroyed (in a way where nobody was hurt, of course), I would be thrilled.