Last night I went to an informal slide show by Toronto artists who participated in the Havana Biennial. Bill Burns, who has been making tiny safety gear for small animals, created this kit for the biennial. It's a miniature version (the flip-flops are about 3 inches long) of everything that prisoners are given in Guantanamo Bay. The kit includes, bedding, an orange boiler suit, buckets, the Koran, a prayer cap, flip-flops, a foam sleeping mattress, soap, and a toothbrush. Unfortunately, when Bill arrived in Cuba, the organizers became worried about the piece, and he was asked to show his safety gear instead. He complied, and "accepted that the small animals of Cuba have as much right to safety gear as small animals in Canada." Last night Bill made a great presentation about the whole affair, speaking as a representative of the Safety Gear for Small Animals company, with an i-photo slide show behind him of street dogs in Havana. He displayed his Guantanamo case for us, and kindly let me take some pictures.
I have been a big fan of Bill Burns since I first saw his great little art book, Analgesia, years ago at Printed Matter in New York. The book takes the form of a promotional publication, or annual report for a pill mine and factory, with full colour photos of little tiny men digging pills out of the ground and loading them onto trucks and conveyor belts.
Quote from Analgesia: "Animal testing is out of the question; samples of product are scientifically tested for acidity, taste, efficacy, and possible non-analgesic properties before being allowed into the Inert Halcyon Sector (IHS). The IHS is often called the first line of defence against chronic pain."
I see on the link that Analgesia is available through Art Metropole. Gotta get me one. I can't get enough of that little pic of the workman with the giant pill.
I've got a seasonal creche thing set up. Joseph's taking his turn minding the baby, and many marginalized critturs are getting their turn to Adore. There's a pachyderm, and a giant turtle, several beetles, some ghekos, a panda bear. Mary's upstairs in one of the bedrooms, shooting the breeze with a couple of chickens. They're discussing the relative merits of expelling eggs vs. the Saviour of the World. They call her "dear," and she doesn't mind.
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Last night I went to an informal slide show by Toronto artists who participated in the Havana Biennial. Bill Burns, who has been making tiny safety gear for small animals, created this kit for the biennial. It's a miniature version (the flip-flops are about 3 inches long) of everything that prisoners are given in Guantanamo Bay. The kit includes, bedding, an orange boiler suit, buckets, the Koran, a prayer cap, flip-flops, a foam sleeping mattress, soap, and a toothbrush. Unfortunately, when Bill arrived in Cuba, the organizers became worried about the piece, and he was asked to show his safety gear instead. He complied, and "accepted that the small animals of Cuba have as much right to safety gear as small animals in Canada." Last night Bill made a great presentation about the whole affair, speaking as a representative of the Safety Gear for Small Animals company, with an i-photo slide show behind him of street dogs in Havana. He displayed his Guantanamo case for us, and kindly let me take some pictures.
I have been a big fan of Bill Burns since I first saw his great little art book, Analgesia, years ago at Printed Matter in New York. The book takes the form of a promotional publication, or annual report for a pill mine and factory, with full colour photos of little tiny men digging pills out of the ground and loading them onto trucks and conveyor belts.
- sally mckay 12-05-2003 8:29 pm
I see on the link that Analgesia is available through Art Metropole. Gotta get me one. I can't get enough of that little pic of the workman with the giant pill.
I've got a seasonal creche thing set up. Joseph's taking his turn minding the baby, and many marginalized critturs are getting their turn to Adore. There's a pachyderm, and a giant turtle, several beetles, some ghekos, a panda bear. Mary's upstairs in one of the bedrooms, shooting the breeze with a couple of chickens. They're discussing the relative merits of expelling eggs vs. the Saviour of the World. They call her "dear," and she doesn't mind.
- Jean (guest) 12-09-2003 7:33 pm