After we said our goodbye’s to Peter, Dave Weinberg asked us if we wanted to check out this guy who shows free movies in an alley. We said “Sure, let’s go, why not?” Al and I jumped in the car and went about 6 blocks down the road, parked the car and followed Dave to this very large alley way. What we saw might not be easy to describe, but we will try here with words and pictures. Imagine a junk carnival explosion all moving here and there. The strange dummy playing the piano was putting me in a very strange place. What is this place? We’re certainly not in
In the alley way was a ton of junk, and if this fellow hadn’t put it together the way he did, it would be just that. But as an artist, this guy put together things you might find in a dumpster, or by the side of the road, in such a way that when you walk into the alley it’s like a celebration and explosion of 3-D art. If you have seen the film Waterworld, and met the guy who built all this, he looks as though he could have walked straight off the set of that film, and his creations are amazing. He is a percussionist as well as an artist, and he likes to combine his two passions wherever possible, hence, the Shark Cage.
Inside a diver’s protective cage, he has placed a wheelchair, so that the structure can be rolled. On most of the exterior surfaces he has attached various devices to hold everything from bells to drums of every description one could think of, whistles, cow bells, pot lids, and in the wheelchair in the middle with a kettle drum, so a person can sit in the chair... Keep in mind, all this is on wheels. So he can roll this wondrous device down the street and folks can bang on things to their heart’s content. Let the good times roll and it’s moving! At any occasion, or just on the spur of the moment, he can start a one man parade and people can just join in the fun. Somehow I think kids would love to bang on this thing. Street bands have been known to come away from their corners and, like I said…. Instant parade! Sometimes, any reason to celebrate is a good reason; and lifting spirits is always a good thing.
As well as his musical forays, this guy constructs statuary from odds and ends he finds. I especially like the piano player. A store manikin, dressed like an 1890’s bar room musician, sits at a dilapidated piano making silent music for the crowd. Next to him is a giant 4 way chess game in a garden of huge metal flowers and plants. We’re definitely not in
On top of all this, Casey (I’m not sure of the correct spelling. My apologies if it’s not right) sets up a projector in the alley and uses the wall of the building opposite his as a full scale movie screen to show free movies to the neighborhood folk, or anyone else who happens by. He has painted curtains like the ones you see in old movie houses about 20 feet tall on either side of where he shoots his screen. So is it a movie house? A structure garden? Both? Whatever you want to call it, it’s living breathing art that is free. Walk in anytime.
Casey himself is a walking piece of art. With his tool belt having all kinds of things hanging from it, and wearing a Scottish hat that has silver looking pieces on it, he seems to have walked right out of a sci-fi story. His glasses almost suggest a Geordi LaForge, Star Trek sort of feel. Or a character right there with Dennis Hopper in “Waterworld”.
So Al and I sat down and watched a movie along with other folks coming by on their bicycles and just sitting on their bikes looking at the film maybe only for a little while. Other folks, sitting in chairs that Case salvaged from here and there spread around the alley, munching popcorn and enjoying the film.
Well it was getting late and Al and I had to head back to where we were staying. We thanked Casey and headed into the night with visions of Casey and his pieces
Still Pickin’
Bill Hudson
Al Coffey.
http://www.dragonfly.com/ is sending entertainers to the devastated areas in
