Wednesday, April 13, 2011

kitties in space

I was at a get-together last night for the 50th anniversary of Yuri's flight to space, and there was some talk about the animals that were sent into space. Here are some kitties in space suits preparing to go up. This website has more info, including a list of all the dogs names who went up. I like the name Ugolek, which means "little chunk of coal".

There was some discussion of public art going on on the MidMo blog, and someone named Alison chimed in with a link to the SMAC website, which has pictures of all the public art around Sacramento. If you click on this link, you get twenty random images. And you can click again and again or search for a piece of art. It's really fun. If you want more information, like where the art is located, click on the picture.

There was some discussion at the gathering about the worst piece of public art. Somebody voted for Chester Cheetah in the zoot suit, but someone else pointed out that kids love it, so it isn't that bad. What do you think is the worst? I gotta think about it but anything related to funk art is in the running, and I'm not into those jesters at downtown plaza.

Lest this sound too negative, I'm thinking about it because of Guphy's post saying her favorite piece of art is the suitcase piece "Samson" at the airport.

27 comments:

beckler said...

I like this sculpture, very 70s

http://cityofsacramento.pastperfect-online.com/36991cgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=BD3B33CA-CE3D-4CE3-9DA3-785981681963;type=101

Anonymous said...

Chester Cheetah is the only possible answer to this question! Dillon peed on at the last dayrage.

-miller

Anonymous said...

"Peed on it" that is.

-miller

beckler said...

I am sorry but this is a butt plug

http://cityofsacramento.pastperfect-online.com/36991cgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=01AA49C9-D30D-4DAD-A049-795035772647;type=101

beckler said...

whaaa?!?! vanoni has a painting up at city hall? oh my god, I am not going to get any work done today

http://cityofsacramento.pastperfect-online.com/36991cgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=8A2C4BBE-9D15-441A-A018-992724389075;type=501

beckler said...

this was also brought up as worst

http://cityofsacramento.pastperfect-online.com/36991cgi/mweb.exe?request=image&hex=198111.JPG

Count Mockula said...

Not on the topic of art, but those kitties really look like they have their heads through the blade part of a mandoline. Yikes. Another nightmare in the bag...

Anonymous said...

This is the one I hate the most.

http://cityofsacramento.pastperfect-online.com/36991cgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=EEF9C348-9D09-4057-B1EA-451371052070;type=101

gbomb

beckler said...

I like the super early 80s time capsule murals on Uptown Cafe and in Davis, which I think are maybe by the same dude? Davis wiki says the one in Davis is by Terry Buckendorf. There isn't much about him on the internet. Here's the one I'm talking about:

http://daviswiki.org/Columbus_Cafe_mural

I had no idea it was depicting a cafe in SF. That's weird. I found an obituary for maybe an ex-wife of his, Janet English, who was also an artist.

beckler said...

what about this piece, which has taunted countless tweakers at the lightrail stop

http://cityofsacramento.pastperfect-online.com/36991cgi/mweb.exe?request=image&hex=1985rt01-2.JPG

beckler said...

I was looking up stuff on the art in the Shields library at Davis, and came across this exchange in a library blog:

QUESTION: Please take down all the crappy art. Specifically on the first floor, near the entrance.
ANSWER: I am sorry you do not appreciate all of the art found in the Shields Library, but that is not unusual. Art is meant to be interesting, attractive, instructive, and challenging. Contemporary art, in particular, is often much richer than what appears to be on the surface of the canvas (or whatever material is being used). What makes most of the Library’s art interesting is that was primarily produced by current and former members of the UCD Art Department.

There is a Roy Deforest bench outside the library? That's cool

http://daviswiki.org/The_Dog_Bench

beckler said...

I love Davis wiki! There's a list of Davis art, with funny comments on the individual pieces. I love "the saddest fountain"

http://daviswiki.org/Campus_Art

beckler said...

oh god, this one in Davis kind of trumps anything we have in Sac

http://daviswiki.org/New_Again

beckler said...

this one too

http://daviswiki.org/Driven_to_Davis

Anonymous said...

Hands down, the art in front of the federal courthouse.
jamattack!

beckler said...

the pioneer Jiminy Crickets?

Anonymous said...

I hate that Driven to Davis one!

-miller

Anonymous said...

Yes. They remind me of the old 7up character.
http://everygame.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/fidodido1.jpg
only, you know, native or whatever.

Anonymous said...

I totally redid this as a link and it didn't show up.
Let me try again.
Dumb

beckler said...
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beckler said...
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beckler said...
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Anonymous said...

The mural on the side of the Masonic Temple is especially awful. The one where people "appear" to be leaving the picture via a ladder.

As much as I hate Chester Cheetah, I recently decided that it must be a great piece of art to stir up such vitriol in people. People such as myself.

-biz

Anonymous said...

i nominate the rose in Roseville as worst, but that's Placer.

this video is pretty comprehensive:

http://vimeo.com/3299946

for some reason i like the reliefs on L street and the downtown plaza.

NM

Liv Moe said...

Fido Dido?

Liv Moe said...

P.S. Dillon is now my new personal hero.....

Snufkin said...

You made my day with that site! My dad was a rocket scientist & worked on the Mercury & Apollo programs. I've always heard more about the US animals than Laika et all. And fun fact for our children's book loving friend, J Otto Seibold's nutty Monkey Business picture book is partially meant to be about Ham.