Comments on: Sky Bouncer

By: Cameron Wittig

Cameron Wittig — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:14:22 +0000

Kristina, we have that Mungo Thomson bumper sticker above our light table in the Walker photo studio. It's one of my favorite things.

By: Matt Peiken

Matt Peiken — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:13:29 +0000

Kristina, have you ever seen “Blazing Saddles?” Easy for me to make the Mongo/Mungo mistake — thanks for pointing it out. I’ve corrected it.

By: Kristina Fong

Kristina Fong — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:10:34 +0000

Okay..

Well, for all, here is a must-read on the topic of appropriation: http://www.designobserver.com/archives/031500.html

(Also it’s Mungo. I rode a horse in horse camp once named Mongo. He always had grass remnants and grass juice running out of his mouth. Loved that guy.)

By: Matt Peiken

Matt Peiken — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:12:18 +0000

Regardless of Turrell’s Skyspace output, you can’t help but see the uncanny likeness of Thomson’s piece to Sky Pesher. Rather than “a nod,” X-Tra would have been more accurate by calling it “a full-body seizure” to Turrell’s work. But on further thought, Kristina, you’re right on another point — this isn’t a knockoff or ripoff. It’s more of an embellishment. In comic improvisation, the key to strong performance is saying “Yes, and …” to your scene partners — “yes” to what others have said or done, then adding action and dialogue that takes the scene to other levels. Thomson is saying “Yes, and …” to Turrell’s work.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:35:24 +0000

Man, I bet Turrell has jumped in one of those bounce houses himself, cowboy hat held to his head and all, and I hardly think he’d go so low as to ever call it a ripoff or a knockoff. And he’s made dozens of skyspaces, not just the one in the WAC’s backyard! If you want to argue appropriation, check out Mungo’s Bruce Nauman bumper stickers! http://www.johnconnellypresents.com/artist/seriesworkview/744/130/3164

(Is it bad that I want one?)