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Thursday, September 13, 2007

What a Hoot

posted by on September 13 at 16:08 PM

Yesterday afternoon, the man who placed the Hooters sign at brix called me. The guerrilla art piece got a flurry visceral reactions on Slog and a follow up article in the PI

IMG_0551_2.jpg

The 36-year-old artist , who asked not to be identified, says he never thought his work would get such a huge response. “I didn’t expect that hooters thing to get to the gay community,” he says. “That wasn’t the first thing I put up there [but] no one really noticed the other ones. [Clearly] people needed to be able to voice their opinions about what they’re afraid of in the neighborhood.”

The Hooters sticker certainly got people talking. However, the artist says he never intended to freak people out. His other art, which you’ve probably seen around town, is a lot more benign.

stickers4353.jpg

The man says he intentionally targeted the brix development, and is considering tackling a few other developments around town, but he claims he’s not on a political crusade.
“I just want to make myself laugh, he says. “I’m looking at buying a condo pretty soon. Maybe it’ll be at the brix, I don’t know.”

RSS icon Comments

1

Nice. I'm a big fan doing stuff to make myself laugh too, so this guy has my support.

Posted by Carollani | September 13, 2007 4:13 PM
2

I would call that a prank--not art.

Posted by dat | September 13, 2007 4:30 PM
3

Steve Pool for City Council!

Posted by kid icarus | September 13, 2007 5:03 PM
4

Can I get a copy of the Steve Pool one? I want to put it up on my window.

Posted by Katelyn | September 13, 2007 5:04 PM
5

PS I happened to be walking by while a respectable looking lady was scraping the second Hooters sign off... I laughed out loud and she noticed me, and said, "yeah, seriously." And we laughed some more. It was a nice moment, I think at least some people in the brix world are laughing about the whole thing.

Posted by Katelyn | September 13, 2007 5:15 PM
6

dat,

Thanks for finally clearing up the blurry line between "a prank" and ART. Some people have crazy definitions for art, but I'll bet yours is the most accurate. Please post your definition so that others won't mistake such "pranks" for art again.

Just for reference, here's the "Dictionary.com" link:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art

I personally won't attempt to define art, after studying the work of Walter De Maria and working with Ann Hamilton, maybe I'm just confused?

Thanks!!!

Static Invasion

Posted by Static Invasion | September 13, 2007 5:19 PM
7

You can have a Steve Pool. Click the posted by link and contact me.

Fun!

Posted by Static Invasion | September 13, 2007 5:24 PM
8

@7 - I have the Steve Pool sticker on my fridge! Thank you!

Posted by kid icarus | September 13, 2007 6:33 PM
9

I love the Hooters thing but the rest of his stuff? Total hack.

Poorly executed rip offs of Robbie Conal.

Not sying the guy needs to stop. Just develop. Toy is a starting point.

Even Shepherd Fairy's Conal biting is forgivable in that it developed into alot more. I'd like to see this guy develop. The stuff he's doing now ain't that great.

The hooters thing though, good stuff. I laughed when I thought of it in the context of the ongoing gentrification of the "gay ghetto".

Posted by Dude | September 13, 2007 7:34 PM
10

Dude,

Damn, you blew my cover. Yeah, I admit it, I'm a hack.

Oh and by the way, your work is brilliant! I'm glad you have chosen to stay annonymous. Smart!

-Static Invasion aka "Hack"

Posted by Static Invasion | September 13, 2007 8:35 PM
11

Static, no doubt the anonymous sloggers are just expressing opinions, and I don't agree with them at all.

And it's your call, but you could be more graceful and just ignore the commenters. Builds character, etc.

Posted by matthew fisher wilder | September 13, 2007 8:43 PM
12

Make one of Stephen Hawking that says "Pseudo Retard".

Posted by Johnny Two Tone | September 13, 2007 11:16 PM
13

Static,

It seems you pissed off "dat" and they came back as "Dude."

Your work rules. -As in post 11, that poster is jealous.

Keep doin' what you do, we love it!

Posted by Anon | September 14, 2007 8:51 AM
14

Static Invasion,

I didn't post as Dude.

I don't think I was clearing up anything--just making a comment, which I believe that is what this section is for.

Here's the definition of prank for your reference.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prank

Posted by dat | September 14, 2007 10:43 AM
15

Static Invasion doesn't need to say anything else at this point. It's clear that he's pretty spot on and not overstated. Everything was well put and funny.

Also, as per post #9, I checked the work of Robbie Conal and it's pretty heavy handed. Static Invasion's work is much more fun and quirky. A lot more effective I'd say. I mean look at how offended "Dude" was, referring to S.I. as a "hack." You know you've made a good impact when you get those responses.

I have to say, Conal does great work, but it's just not as fun.

Posted by Kimberly | September 14, 2007 11:54 AM
16

I would call that a prank--not art.
Posted by dat | September 13, 2007 4:30 PM

This is quite bold. Wouldn't this be defined by the creator? Could a prank be art? Instead of prank could we use the words vandalism or advertisment? Could both of these also be art? Once one decides to define art, the ability to reflect clearly becomes harder because the focus is placed on looking for the borders of the definition instead of the reflection. If you cannot reflect on this you can critique it by saying something like "This art sucks." If you cannot reflect at all you are probably too caught up on definition and are possibly infected by the veil of nihilism that has been cast upon western civilization (though I suppose we all are to some degree).

Posted by Stewart Lighton | September 15, 2007 12:15 PM
17

you can't know how big of an impact your making with your street art until you piss some people off!

i figure the seattle ratio is about 100 people who adore your work for ever one who gets pissed. maybe higher.

keep it up! you know we all love your work!

Posted by heckzotica | September 17, 2007 4:54 PM

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