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At Least one City Commissioner is not afraid of clowns
Sun, 2005-11-06 18:56 — joemoraca
The City of Sarasota made the news all over again for the "battle of clowns." This story was carried by the AP newswire... Sarasota isn't laughing in battle over clowns
SARASOTA, Fla. With his monklike fringe of carroty hair, red pingpong ball of a nose and stenciled smiley mouth, Chuck Sidlow looked every bit the jolly fellow. But he was not a happy clown.
Feelings of rejection and dismay have gripped many show folks of late in the storied circus town of Sarasota, which earned its reputation as a big-top hub after becoming the wintertime home for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus 75 years ago.
At the root of Sidlow and his brethren's woes is a small but vocal group of local artists who object to a seemingly innocuous plan. To raise money and celebrate their 25th anniversary, Hospice of Southwest Florida wants to place up to 70 large fiberglass clowns painted by artists and sponsored by businesses — around town.
The concept has ample precedent, from Chicago's cows to Miami Beach's flamingos to Washington D.C.'s donkeys and elephants, and beyond. For hospice directors, clowns unquestionably captured Sarasota's spirit and history, and the city commission easily embraced the plan.
But the dissenting artists say the mass-produced figurines are overly commercial and hackneyed. Sarasota's plan is made worse, they believe, because the figures in question would be clowns, which they say would cheapen a city that bills itself as the "cultural coast."
Plus, they noted, there are children and adults who harbor coulrophobia a serious fear of clowns.
"The clown phobia thing is huge, I had no idea. There are people who just plum hate the images of clowns," said Virginia Hoffman, a sculptor and chair of Sarasota's Public Art Committee. "I'm concerned about fallout. What if there are protests by clowns haters, or people who want to vandalize clown statues?"
Photo taken at Arlington Park Neighborhood Picnic.. He is a good sport and said he didn't mind if I used this picture...
Comments
Oh, please!
In a city pretty much made what it is today by John Ringling, I can't believe anyone is flipping out over using clowns as a fundraiser. Clowns are a part of Sarasota's heritage. Ringling Bros. holds Clown College here, for goodness sake! I've always been creeped out by clowns, but I have no problem with setting them out on every street corner in Sarasota to raise money for a worthy cause. Using coulrophobia as a reason not to do this is really reaching.
The people who came up with this idea obviously know that they can sell the clowns, or they wouldn't be considering this project. I've seen horses, cows and dogs done in other cities with great success. I'm also pretty tired of "artists" trying to force their own personal ideas of what is or isn't appropriate on Sarasota. You can create all the abstract art you want, and yet a big fiberglass kissing couple gets all the love and attention.
I feel some of the "artists" around here are trying to do to the city what the condo people did to the live music scene downtown, and other areas. I'm not going to be forced into some narrow idea of what is appropriate. I can think for myself, thank you very much. Whether you agree with me, or like it, or not.
mj shenk
BTW...I love your blog, Joe! Keep up the good work.
Pelican Press Guest Editorial
Clown-troversy – Sarasota, lighten up
Clowns in the City
Yes, Danny is a good sport but he opted out of putting on the red nose offered to him by a Clown at the Commission meeting when the project was first proposed. I have recieved a lot of feed back from the Communitty concenring the proposed Clown display. I would say people who live in the City are not excited about Clown statues. The Art Communitty really hates the idea. It seems that only people who live in gated Communitty in the County think Clown statues all over downtown is a good idea. I say lets put them in the gated Communitties and keep them out of downtown.
Clowns are much better appreciated at the Circus and at Birthday Parites. Once you let them hang out on street corners they never go home.
With the red nose
I just can't resist: which on