Adventure Art

image Some guy (I can't find his name) has put together a huge and fascinating collection of examples of 'adventure art'. Many of the examples he describes are basically elaborate pranks. Some of the stuff is completely insane. Many of the stunts seem to end with the artist's arrest. I haven't had the time to read all of it, but here are a few samples that caught my eye:
  • The Austrian artist group produced "Nellanutella" as part of their contribution for the Venice Biennale. The artists threw themselves repeatedly into Venice's canals from café tables, bridges and boats.
  • Gordon Matta Clark cut large holes into the walls of Pier 52 on the Hudson River. The work "day's end" resulted in a warrant issued for the artist's arrest and his eventual flight to Europe.
  • Doug Fishbone installed a gigantic mountain of bananas - well over a ton of them - in the historic town square in Piotrkow Trybunalski in Poland. The work, which was eaten by the crowd in minutes, was meant as a commentary on greed, globalization, consumerism and violence.
That last guy, Doug Fishbone (the banana artist), actually went to Amherst College with me. We were both in the same year but never hung out together. I haven't seen him since Amherst.

Art Pranks

Posted on Thu Mar 17, 2005



Comments

All I can say is thanks for the reading material, Alex. I'm only on the first page so far.

Definately interesting.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:15 AM
"1971 - Chris Burden did Shout Piece at F-Space gallery. He sat on a platform 14 feet above the floor, covered with red body paint and illuminated by movie lights. When the people who had received invitations to the exhibition got there, they were surprised by Burden's voice, which was amplified by three large speakers, repeating over and over again: "Get the f*ck out imediately. Get the f*ck out immediately. " Faced with physical rejection and with the artist's own presence, most left instantaneously."

Sounds like the type of person I'd hang out with.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:35 AM
Tw*t.
(Him, not you Rod)
Posted by Boo  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  02:39 AM
Here's a good one...

"His current performance involves not looking at, making, reading about, or talking about art for twelve months."

I've been doing this for years. How come I'm not famous?
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  02:42 AM
But then again, if that's his art, isn't he breaking his own rule right off the bat?
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  02:44 AM
Yup.
Oh, and Rod?
You're not famous because... um...
mum always liked me better.
Posted by Boo  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  02:51 AM
1973
Posted by Boo  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  03:02 AM
That reminds me of the Swiss chick and the rabbits and such.

There are some truly twisted people out there, and some truly creative ones, too.

My favorite so far is the two guys who make their own stamps with whatever picture they want on them just to see if the mail gets delivered. Hilarious.

The grossest is the guy who sold cans of his own crap, knowing that eventually they would explode wherever the person who owned them happened to keep them. Also hilarious.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  03:20 AM
2003 - Jeroen Jongeleen marked several art books in the Rotterdam library using a rubber stamp depicting a fingerprint.

It's ones like this that I don't consider art. There's not a lot of meaning behind it, not a lot of preparation involved, and it doesn't even have the benefit of looking nice. It's vandalism wrapped up in pseudo-artistic self interest.

Also, I get upset when people damage books.
:red:
Posted by Boo  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  03:32 AM
I lent a book to a friend in grade 8. When I got it back, the spine was creased. That was the last book I ever lent out, except to my mother, who treats books the same as I do.

(Jeez, I wonder where I got that little idiosyncracy.)
:roll:

That one pissed me off too, I'd probably freak on the guy if I ever caught him stamping books.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  07:06 AM
There is a dividing line between art and stupidity. People are reluctant to go on record saying that something is on the "stupid" side of the line.
Posted by cvirtue  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  07:58 AM
I don't like it when books are gratuitously destroyed, but I have to admit that I love it when people mark or write in library books... as long as it's not with a hi-liter. It's like you get to know the reaction of another person to the stuff you're reading... almost as if you're reading it together. I once had a teacher who would say that a book hasn't really been read until it's been written in.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  08:39 AM
Aaugh! A little piece of me just died, reading Alex's post.

Sacrelege! Sacrelege!

It even annoys me when they stamp the edges of a book at the store with the date.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  08:45 AM
:cheese:
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  08:46 AM
Hey Alex, speaking of books, did you get the $15.00 I pay Pal'd you????
Posted by X  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  09:04 AM
Got it. Thanks for that. I'll get it in the mail tomorrow.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  09:10 AM
Aaah! Now we know how you REALLY got your new-found Pro-Ana killing powers, Stephen! Cash!

:lol:
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  09:18 AM
Are you suggesting that I bribed Alex, Rod????
Do you think Alex would actually give me these kind of powers for $15.00???
Posted by X  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  09:47 AM
Just be thankful that Alex only wanted 15 bucks and not a "personal massage".
Posted by Charybdis  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  10:05 AM
Who, ME?

Never.

I was stating it flat out! 😊

Seriously though, I've gotta check out his books sometime.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  10:52 AM
It's still book, singular. Second book is due out next year. In my opinion it'll be a lot better than the first one, but then authors always think what they're currently writing is great. It's only after you've finished writing something that the doubts begin to creep in.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  10:58 AM
Whoops, the gas huffing's starting to show...

:lol:

My mistake.
Posted by Rod  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  11:02 AM
Which cover I'm I getting Alex???
Posted by X  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  11:10 AM
Alex,

Just out of curiosity.... once your book is done, how long does it normally take from the editors to on shelves?

(Ack, had to edit... I type "you're" instead of "your" originally. Stephen, this is the first time in many many years I've done that. Are you rubbing off on me?)

((Not rubbing ON me, rubbing off on me. :> ))
Posted by Winona  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:25 PM
Stephen, I'll send you the UK cover. It's hardcover. Unless you'd prefer the softcover US jackalope cover.

Winona, I'd say it takes about six months normally. The editor has to go over it. Then a copyeditor. Then it has to be formatted to look nice on the page. Someone has to do the cover art, etc.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:37 PM
Six months isn't so bad, I was expecting much longer.

I honestly can't wait till this new one is out. 😊 I appreciate the time you take on the website while you are obviously so busy!
Posted by Winona  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:40 PM
Stephen, quit rubbing Winona. No matter how hard you try you won't get your three wishes. 😠
Posted by Charybdis  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:41 PM
Hey Alex, I paypalled you a little bit ago. I've got the American one but if you've still got any Dutch ones I'll take one of those. Or any other "furren" versions you have. Or failing that, the UK one. Or another US one. Or a rock. Whatever. I'm easy.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:45 PM
You want the Dutch one? Okay. If you say so. I've got a few extra of those. I've only got two of the Polish version, so I'm holding onto those. I've been told there's a Japanese version, but I never got copies of it.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  01:52 PM
Since I have the English one I can memorize it and then show the Dutch one to visitors. When they ask "Can you read this?" I can tell them exactly what it says.

:coolsmirk:
Posted by Charybdis  on  Fri Mar 18, 2005  at  02:05 PM
Lol that's good stuff. Will you post more about adventure art in the future?
Posted by Frank Zweegers  on  Tue Aug 25, 2009  at  02:44 AM
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