RSS FeedPublic Art Or Public Nuisance?
The old Waffle Shop site has been the site of much speculation, and a hangout for more than a few people. If you’ve paid attention though, you’ve noticed that the entrance to the old restaurant has been decorated numerous times over the last several months. Sure it may look like a random collection of garbage, but if you’ve ever seen the guy who puts these together you know differently.
The creator of these works spends quite a bit of time painstakingly selecting items from a larger pile as he works to perfect his vision. Usually he’s talking to himself, but occasionally he attempts to solicit an opinion from the passersby.
The photos with this post are a random selection from the last few days. Really though we should have started taking photos when we first noticed the phenomenon. Taking more photos would have given you a better idea of the various themes presented to those who make their way down 10th Street.
I suppose one day soon this will all be a distant memory as this block is rebuilt. Will anyone miss these little reminders of the old neighborhood, or will everyone welcome the changes to our section of downtown?
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Comments
Just because I signed my overflowing recycling bin doesn’t make it “art.” I know, Duchamps signed a urinal and people paid a lot of money for it, but that was a long time ago. Time to move on.
And when’s the new Waffle Shop opening?
Speaking of cleaning up the garbage…
From the MPD mailing list….
“I attended an ABRA status hearing today (06-24-08) concerning Platinum Night Club. At the end of hearing, Platinum surrendered their ABC license and officially closed for good. The ABRA board decided that Mr.Abdul Kahnu can hold only one ABC license in the District of Columbia (currently H20). This action places a hold on the new establishment which Mr. Kahnu was attempting to open in the 5th District (The Big Chill). This will be welcomed news to many of PSA 101’s residents, and should be announced on the PSA 101 List serve. We will continue to monitor the other clubs and notify ABRA of any violations or incidents.”
Sgt. Joseph Massey
PSA 101
First District
One man’s doorway is another man’s house. Maybe it is art if it causes us to look at it a different way…
i stepped over some “art” just this morning, in the pedestrian tunnel near the construction on 10th st. it involved soiled clothing, human waste, and flies buzzing around. i told two of those uniformed people that walk around and all they asked me is whether it was on church grounds, seemingly trying to find en excuse to not do anything about it.
It’s art, you fools. If it is both loved and hated, and makes anyone, even you, think, it’s art.
Here’s to gentrification of your ‘hood….
hope it goes quick so you never have to be confronted with signs of life. But won’t you miss…..something, even just a little?
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I will not miss them. They are piles of garbage. I occassionally take the liberty of picking up the trash, like a would an empty cup or other trash left on the sidewalk, and depositing it in the trash can.
On a separate note on that stretch of block, I have noticed a Madame Toussad’s staffer sitting in front of the Visitor Center on the corner of 10th and E the last few days advertising with one of their wax figures. Seemed sort of cheap and desperate. Guessing they are not doing very well.