A New Way to Protest
There is a corner lot in town with a 2-car garage on it. Curiously enough, sometimes the lot is planted with corn. (You don't find a field of corn stalks at a busy intersection, usually.) Last fall, the owner made a personal statement with a paint brush: each square of the overhead garage door is a different garish shade, provoking negative reactions from every passenger in our car. The effect is sorta "Hippie-meets-Barney"; not a welcome combo in any small town, and certainly not in conservative Potsdam.
I wondered about the motive. Word on the street is that he has a personal vendetta against the town zoning board. It seems a convoluted way to get revenge, but perhaps only a harmless jibe.
But wait: last week, those observant offspring of mine noted additional exterior decor: a few dozen frisbees, nailed to the garage in pleasing patterns. On one wall, they formed a smiley face. Huh. Someone's got way too much time (and frisbees) on their hands.
Then today, #1 Daughter and I were puzzled at some other new objects. White porcelain-type boxey things placed up against the siding....glowing proudly in the April sun.....I've seen them somewhere before....what...?
Urinals. Now as lawn ornaments.
Someone has declared war.
( Saturday update~ just when we thought we've had enough, here's more eye-candy: plastic plants in the urinals.
nice touch.)
I wondered about the motive. Word on the street is that he has a personal vendetta against the town zoning board. It seems a convoluted way to get revenge, but perhaps only a harmless jibe.
But wait: last week, those observant offspring of mine noted additional exterior decor: a few dozen frisbees, nailed to the garage in pleasing patterns. On one wall, they formed a smiley face. Huh. Someone's got way too much time (and frisbees) on their hands.
Then today, #1 Daughter and I were puzzled at some other new objects. White porcelain-type boxey things placed up against the siding....glowing proudly in the April sun.....I've seen them somewhere before....what...?
Urinals. Now as lawn ornaments.
Someone has declared war.
( Saturday update~ just when we thought we've had enough, here's more eye-candy: plastic plants in the urinals.
nice touch.)
posted by thisrequiresthought at 8:35 PM
3 Comments:
Conservative...and Potsdam...in the same sentence?
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I will certainly have to drive by to have a look.
I had quite the laugh when I read about the urinals. Since you've seen them before, does this mean that you've been in the mens room?
If I remember correctly, there were protests by Potsdam folks regarding this "cornfield" in town. I'm wondering if the zoning board told him he couldn't plant again and that is his gripe. I wonder what he'll add next. When we went into Minneapolis, to find a specialty running store, we were in a neighborhood and one house in particular stood out. It looked as if the entire exterior was done in a mosiac of tiles and glass. That, along with the various abstract sculptures, led me to believe there may have been an artist in residence. It was definitely different, although I'm not sure what the neighbors thought. Maybe this guy is just getting in touch with the artist within. :)
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