12/4/2002: Sheep poetry
 

http://cellar.org/2002/sheeppoetry.jpg

Shown here is poet Valerie Laws. She is writing.

Well sorta. What she's doing is painting words on the backs of 15 sheep. After she's done, she'll climb to the top of a platform to see what poems the sheep create by milling around.

No, it's art. It's called the "Quantum Sheep project", had a $4000 (L2000) grant given to it by charity.

The ananova story

But apparently this picture is of a trial run or something, because the actual project is supposed to take place later. I'm not sure why they have to wait, or why it would cost money to paint words on the back of sheep and look at them from a platform. Frankly I think I could do it cheaper through technology, having taken a course on random number generation, but there is something interesting about having the process be organic.

And that's what the artist says too: "I feel this is an exciting project in which the landscape of the countryside connects with the inhabitants and creates organic poetry."

Ogg not understand.
Head hurt.
Why art woman paint on sheep?
Why? Why?
Griff will know.
We ask him now.
Feel better later.
Good. Good.

Time for some cow meat on bread, eh? Or rather, mutton. :)

No offense intended Ogg, however, your simple mind may not comprehend this. Its too big. You see, its funded, it is significant. UT would have people develop art on their own time/dime, appalling. I did a similar quantum experiment with chickens. "from step get Oklahoma verdi time many" Random? Pay attention! I think not. Embrace it Ogg, you will FEEL better, other peoples art will give meaning to all your huntin' and gatherin'.

Copy Cat
 

I just saw on CNN about a week ago a story on a guy who was doing black-and-white photography of words painted on cows.

Here's the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/Northeast....ap/index.html

I'm not sure if the lady copied him, or if he copied her....

Okay, here's what I would now like to do for my next poem...a living breathing art project.

--First, I need some sort of grant...NEA, Penn, Villanova, Pew Charitable Trust, whatever...

--Second, I'm going to need 37 Cellar Dwellars. Each of you will be painted with a word. The grant will help to pay you a fee for your time and the mess you will endure.

--Third, I will gather all of you at LOVE Park (15th and JFK Blvd., across from City Hall).

--Fourth, I will play a moshable song (something by System of a Down or Ministry) and you will be forced to mosh in a cordoned-off area. The music will then stop at a random point to be decided by me.

--Wherever you're all standing in the end, that is what the poem will be.

These are the 37 words that will be used:

Duck
Chasing
Tampon
Pixy Stix
Fiend
Crucify
Peanuts
Butterscotch
Crawling
Lifting
Vagina
Lilies
Bowling
Turquoise
Matador
Is
Ain't
Try
Teach
Pilgrimage
Incubus
Stutter
Pornography
Sleeping
Chasing
Writhe
Rose
Liberty
Pencil
Telephone
Jerky
Hanger
Vengence
Discombobulated
Vegetable
Subsist
Diarrhea

Anyone willing to donate themselves or money, kindly contact me by PM.

I might help you here, but on two conditions...
 

1. I won't get nekked for your art. If you wish to get nekked for your art that's fine. I will try to keep the pointing and laughing to a minimum.

2. I wanna be "discombobulated".

Re: 12/4/2002: Sheep poetry
 

But they can simulate all that shit now. Simply get a sheep to wear one o' them motion-capture suits, then create dozens of CGI sheep. You'd have to program in their basic thought process and whatnot, but I bet it'd be a rather believable simulation.

Well now. I will only participate in the cellar piece if I get to be naked, er... artistically nude, and imprinted as "bowling". The aesthetic randomness will have interpretive layers because, of course, my identity as "bowling" will effect my quality of movement. For instance I imagine I will want to spend much time in relation to, responding to, and in concert with the dynamics of "butterscotch". See, people *will* pay top dollar for this much fun. Virtual will not do. Ok, I'd be in as "vengance" too. I could tap into some unexplored emotional territory, but then "bowling" better watch out. Why look! I have a grant application right here...

I'm claiming "subsist" as my word right now. I would have went with "discombobulated" but sadly wolf already claimed that one.

I'm Sleeping.

C'mon, you slackers. Someone has to be Diarrhea.

For the record, I would like to state that I made no mention of nudity. :)

Griff has "matador."

Bushmills
 

Then you've agreed to my er... stipend?

Shhh! Not in front of everybody else damnit!