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1

It was bad enough looking at that thing every day for seven days on my way to get an old muffin from the cafeteria. BTW, it was placed next to a series of ceramic plates covered in camels or something.

Someone also told me that Harborview's "art collection" is actually owned by King County...nice work, assholes.

Posted by Meagan | January 8, 2008 3:18 PM
2

you're just jealous of the artist's originality.

Posted by max solomon | January 8, 2008 3:20 PM
3

Oh yes, and it should ALSO be noted that this print is housed on the same floor as the "Mental Health" ward. I don't think this is doing anything positive in regards to treating schizophrenia.

Posted by Meagan | January 8, 2008 3:21 PM
4

starngely intrigueing

Posted by linus | January 8, 2008 3:24 PM
5

It's not a beak, it's bill.

Also, what is up with the fishing hook pattern on the duck-man's robe?

Posted by oljb | January 8, 2008 3:54 PM
6

No, no, no,

The Toucan is a pet, hense the leash. It's wound around the ducks human finger because it's easy to hold a Toucan and when you are a duck with opposable thumbs you don't go waisting them on holding your Toucan's leash.

I'ts not a Samurai suit. It's a Toucan and Fishook themed bathrobe. Obviously the duck is a bit taken by both, and since one doesn't find fabric like this commercially, it's probably handpainted. Ducks with opposable thumbs can do that sort of thing.

Finally the fish are not for the Toucan. The fish are for the duck. The Toucan loves the duck, realizes it loves sardines, and brings them to her.

Look the duck is even kind of stroking the Toucan tenderly. It's eye's aren't meancing. They are depressed. Note the crowsfeet around the eyes. This is a tired old house-duck. That's ennui you are seeing in her eyes, not menace.

Posted by kinaidos | January 8, 2008 3:55 PM
7

"and most Japanese people don’t have beaks. Racist."

So true.

But birds are not gross!

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/879/20080389.JPG

Posted by Irena | January 8, 2008 3:57 PM
8

@7:
Irena! Touche!!!

Posted by Lindy | January 8, 2008 3:59 PM
9

What happened to the Porche driver? Citation or "I didn't see him?"

Posted by ecec moho | January 8, 2008 4:16 PM
10


Unrelated to the duck.

The duck image was right next to the "Enemies of Slog" and I noticed that Daniel Schorr is on the Slog enemies list. Generally I think of Daniel Schorr as being a good guy and a principled journalist. As a relatively inoffensive retired journalist, and someone who fought the good fight in his day, I find it odd that he is on the enemies list. Anyone know why he is an enemey of Slog?

Posted by Curious | January 8, 2008 4:19 PM
11

And why is Robin Williams an enemy of Slog, BTW?

Posted by Irena | January 8, 2008 4:22 PM
12

@11:

Have you SEEN his recent work?

'Nuff said.

Posted by COMTE | January 8, 2008 4:47 PM
13

My guess would be that this was done by a client/patient and donated on the condition, in their will, that this piece be publically displayed in perpetuity on their demise if the place accepted his/her money in his/her will. I can't think of any other realistic defense for it.

Posted by Wolf | January 8, 2008 4:48 PM
14

If you put this next to a yellow taxi, and a yellow Donald Judd, and then showed it to Jen Graves, she'd probably go stigmata.

And as a former Porsche driver, I'm sure that biker was in his lane, wasn't burning a stop sign, or any of that other biker stuff, right? I hope he feels better sooner...vertebrae injuries are a drag.

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | January 8, 2008 4:48 PM
15

You have all missed the whole story…

The duck, obviously (form her garb), has two great loves… fishing and toucans.

In an act of affection for its liberator, the toucan (which happens to still be tethered to the hand of its previous master, from whom the duck liberated it, by the tool of that owners oppression, a leash (you try to untie a leather thong without opposable thumbs)) has learned to fish for the duck.

And, no, its not racist to put a ducks head on what you assume to be an Oriental. It is racist to assume the duck is an Oriental based solely on its hair and garb.

There is a sister piece in a hospital in Hoboken depicting the liberation of the toucan from its previous master. The energy with which the duck gnaws off the oppressors hand just above her wrist is uplifting to the soul…

Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | January 8, 2008 4:55 PM
16

@14

Maybe he was. Was the porsche driver speeding, talking on a cellphone, drinking a latte, running a stop sign, blowing a stoplight, or any of that other porsche shit?

Posted by move_it_by_bike | January 8, 2008 4:55 PM
17

Seeing a picture of a duck (quack) isn't the most reassuring image if you're at all worried about the quality of the medical care (quacks).

Posted by Mahtli69 | January 8, 2008 5:01 PM
18

best post i read all week.

Posted by ducklover | January 8, 2008 5:02 PM
19

@13 No such luck, it was acquired fair and square.

@14 No "biker stuff" was involved.

Posted by Meagan | January 8, 2008 5:34 PM
20

@19 -- Thanks for clarifying. Porsche drivers can sometimes be unfairly targeted at self-absorbed assholes (Hi, there @16!), just as bikers can be rudely tarred with the stinky anarchic hippy brush.

I am pleased to know that he is OK -- and would very much like to know if he got any kind of restitution from the Porsche-driving fellow/fellowess. If not, I might go key a Carrera S tonight...

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | January 8, 2008 5:47 PM
21

lindy. best post. i like it when you write.

Posted by kt | January 8, 2008 5:51 PM
22

The fishies eyes are my favorite part of the painting. Everyone BUT the duck looks a little freaked out by what's going on.

Posted by M | January 8, 2008 6:21 PM
23

Lindy, that's so funny, because I was pretty sure that duck was my nurse Joel for two days when I was on morphine.

For awhile, I was convinced that I was the toucan. Also, sardines are delicious.

--Adam

Posted by Adam | January 8, 2008 7:17 PM
24

For all you idiots who want nice, soothing, hospital art, instead of anything that might make you think,
there is this guy-
http://www.healingphotoart.com/

Me, if they ever put me in Harborview, I am hoping for a few Mapplethorpe photos, an Andres Serrano Piss Christ, and maybe some Chris Offili elephant dung Virgin Mary's to cheer me up.
A giant Damien Hirst half cow in formaldahyde would probably help me beat that bad bunch out as well.

Posted by Ries Niemi | January 8, 2008 9:27 PM
25

who is the artist? Seems like you could do him/her the favor of attribution, since you're showing the work.

ps. i think it's subtly charming

Posted by wrenn | January 8, 2008 9:37 PM
26

Robin Williams should be on death row.

Posted by Mr. Poe | January 8, 2008 10:03 PM
27

Judging for the result of a google search for 'creepy art hospital' (single, not double quotes), there's a lot of weird stuff on the walls in healthcare facilities. Don't know why, but one of the google hits says it raises patients' blood pressure. Maybe it's a way of drumming up business?

Posted by Natalie | January 8, 2008 11:32 PM
28

You all are so obtuse! The duck (Madonna figure, BTW) loves toucans and fish, denoted by the fishhook/toucan motif on her gown. As stated above, it's obvious the toucan adores his/her duck, by the fish he/she's caught for her. End of story.
Also, what is so ghastly about this work of art, except for those who dislike ducks, toucans or sardines?

Posted by LoveADuck | January 9, 2008 12:15 AM
29

The duck is indeed Japanese. He's a fisherman (fisherduck?). Instead of a cormorant he's managed to train a toucan to catch his sardines.

I like this picture.

Posted by M'thew | January 9, 2008 1:08 AM
30

@10: I believe Daniel Schorr is on Slog's enemies list as a joke. He was famously listed on Nixon's enemies list - the list was handed to him during a live broadcast, he started reading it, and it turned out that he was on it!

Posted by Morgan | January 9, 2008 2:39 AM
31

The print references Japanes fishermen who use cormorants to fish (hence the fish hooks on the robe). These fishermen each have several cormorants which they capture when young, and place a ring around it's neck to prevent it swallowing larger fish, with a line attached, the cormorants dive for fish, and are the brought back to the boat and disgorged. The fish in the toucan's bill are actually held in the manner of puffins though, cormorants hold their fish in their expandable neck. We are all animals of some kind so avimorphising the fisherman and changing the species of the worker-bird seems to comment on power and class. I think it is rather beautiful and evocative.

Posted by inkweary | January 9, 2008 12:08 PM
32

"Porsche drivers can sometimes be unfairly targeted at [sic] self-absorbed assholes"


@20, I'm with you. This is certainly a common misconception, but Porsche drivers are not as self-absorbed as their behavior would seem to indicate.

They are just too busy looking for their tiny penises to notice other people.

Posted by Emily | January 9, 2008 12:31 PM
33

What #31 said. It's only you silly gaijin who don't get it.

Posted by Greg | January 9, 2008 12:32 PM

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