Firehose Art

If you go to the Manhattan Bridge Archway in New York City tomorrow, you can witness artist "Dread Scott" repeatedly trying to walk into the blast of a high-pressure water hose. He calls this performance "On the Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide." As you watch it, you're supposed to be reminded of crowd control tactics of the past and think about the ongoing struggle for equality. At least, that's the official takeaway.

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 06, 2014
Category: Art | Performance Art

Comments

Riding high on the back of The Dred Scott this guy seems to think he can propel history forward (whatever that means) with is 'art'.

For some reason he still thinks there's slavery in the USofA but, for the life of me I couldn't find out where the auctions are being held this month!

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/06/14 at 10:02 AM

Expat - If you have to work for a living, you are in economic slavery.

Posted by RobK on 10/06/14 at 11:15 AM

Have this guy approach the hose backwards - a firehose enema will clean all the artsy crap out of him.

Posted by KDP on 10/06/14 at 12:17 PM

Remember when art was a pretty picture or a sculpture that looked like something recognizable?

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/06/14 at 07:11 PM

The civil rights marchers did have to face wicked water cannons (those that weren't outright murdered by Klansmen). That is one of the enduring images of the era. I guess one has to be of a certain age to remember that.

Posted by Harvey on 10/07/14 at 11:22 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.