The Tin Man

21 Club NYC

Racing stables need lawn jockeys painted in their colors. They may be required, but what is a new racing stable, yet without colors, or a horse to do?

Fearing someone at the Triple Crown office will eventually ask our horse's name, our stable's name and colors I decided preparation was in order. It's important the racing set get our names right in the program.

Equestrian Style

Like most of life's difficulties, the solution is often obvious once you get the questions right. I began at the bottom, by reading How to start a Horse Breeding Farm. Step one: "Bring lots of money". Clearly, the wrong question.

Being a visual learner I visited Lawn Jock to see what they could tell me about our necessary accessory. They recommended an unfinished lawn jockey, which costs $150 less than a painted one and allows me to create my own customized piece of yard art whenever the mood strikes.

Lawn Jock

With paint brush and beer can in hand I'm able to change the colors every day.

Equestrian Style

Mercifully, I am blessed with neither creativity nor discernible painting talent, so smears, runs or drips can be interpreted as modern art. I'm thinking a nice tan and white seersucker jacket and white linen pants on our talisman.

Toad

Justice?

On several occasions over the past year I have had a little sport with the local retired art teacher who has a chip on his shoulder. You can catch up here, here or here.

He thought an art installation would bring his neighbors closer together, never understanding why they did become closer, at his expense. They sued. They sued in the county court, the state and Federal court. To make certain he understood their anger, they billed him for their lawyers too.

He had is day in court this week. The teacher's case was that since he titled his work, "Holocaust Revisited", and he was Jewish his rights were being trampled. The judge called it a safety hazard, gave him 20 days in the cooler, during which he would be allowed to rethink his position, so that he was prepared to restate his case upon his release.

He was unrepentant, as he was led from the courtroom.

Toad

Art? Part 3 The stall is working

We have visited the ART Man's gallery in the past. You can revisit our excursions here, and here.

Mrs. T and I drove by Sunday to see how things were progressing. Much has changed since our visit over the holidays. The man's megalomania may never end. In the mean time, 3 of his closest neighbors have placed their homes for sale. Similar homes two blocks away in the same subdivision sell for $100k more. Go figure.

Then

Now




Then

Now



Then





Happy St. Paddy's Day to y'all.
Toad

Guess who's winning

Last spring I posted about a group of neighbors who were jealous because one of their own installed his very own art display and didn't ask his neighbors to join in the fun. This being America, those left out sued.


They sued in local, county, state and Federal court. The local court punted. The municipality said they had nothing on the books to prohibit art displays. The county said, as long as it is safe... They eventually dropped the state suit and went to the Feds, who being in no particular hurry, set a hearing date for several weeks after the rapture. In the mean time construction continues.

It may come as no particular surprise to learn that the closer you live to this project, the less excited you are about it. Known as "The Holocaust Revisited" it exhibits the subtle interplay of religious expression and property rights.



Especially for the back yard neighbors.


The display shows best a night. It's well lit, lest trespassers trip over the art.

The artist is one angry dude. So next time one of your neighbors offends,take a deep breath. Your house is probably sellable. You could probably leave. Not these folks, not only must they face this everyday, but the have to face the regular special neighborhood assessments to pay the lawyers. The artist, whose legal defense is provided by the ACLU and several Jewish groups, is also being sued for not contributing to the suits against himself. Go figure.

Toad

But is it ART?

Jim Bob and his lovely wife Linda Bob had asked Mrs T and I to join them on a progressive dinner. We were there in a flash. On the way towards destination #2 Jim Bob says, "turn here".

Why I didn't know, but a good evening was about to become better.

We turn into your basic early 70's suburban neighborhood. Pretty houses, well kept lawns, mature flora, kids in good schools.

Left at the next intersection. I follow his instructions.

Then it hits.

So ask yourself. Is it art? The neighbors are not amused. Especially the guy with the deck overlooking the mess

My guess is that he is REALLY PISSED at somebody.

House sales have slowed in the 'hood, as there is no other home with an art installation.

Toad