Public Art Regatta

(Photo from the New York Times website)


Some stories are just too good to be true.
There’s a public art piece that’s been floating around Manhattan Island recently called, appropriate, “Floating Island”. It was designed in 1973 by an artist named Robert Smithson- an earth artist who was fascinated with the dislocation of nature. It’s a unique concept that really appeals to me, using a scow which was planted to look like a mini Central Park- tall trees, rocks, paths, bushes- the works. The scow is pulled by a red tugboat named Rachel Marie all day long so that it travels around the 24 mile long metropolis, giving everyone a fair and free view. Everyone is happy with it. Nature, art and a hard working scow. What could be a better statement of Manhattan itself?
Enter disgruntled art student types. They have a boat, too- a small motor boat towing a little float with a videographer hard at work. The first boat sports a small replica of one of Christo’s saffron “Gates” ™. It is obvious they are up to no good, and, contrary to the usual methods of piracy, they intend to board the Island and plant their mini “Gate”™ on it! It is a race to the finish, with the tug captain trying to outrun the public art pirates. Unfortunately, the tug captain, being more experienced, wins, and the pirates have to dock with their statement intact. They are cheered on by well-wishers with great huzzahs.
I don’t know what happened then, but I can only hope they carried the “Gate”™ around town on a truck and made Manhattan laugh.