Rockets of the type that first sent US astronauts into space, outside the NY Hall of Science in Queens, an original Atlas booster with a replica Mercury capsule (on the right) and an original Titan II booster with a replica two-man Gemini capsule.
Futuristic sculpture left over from the 1964 World’s Fair
These leaf-cutter ants live under plexiglas, and their leaf delivery guy didn’t come the day I was there. A steady stream of hopeful ants came through the plexi tube into the bin, where the leaves usually are. They left disappointed, one escaped.
Costa Rican leaf-cutter ants doing what they like to do best.
Giant map of NYC in the Queens Museum of Art. Robert Moses had ‘The Panorama of the City of New York’ built for the 1964 World’s Fair, but it has been updated, and supposedly has every building built before 1992. Originally you flew over it on a simulate helicopter ride. Now there is a ramp that spirals around it from the first to second floor of the museum.
Jesse Rae, performs in a kilt and war helmet and carrying a massive broadsword, which he is wont to slam point down into the floor.
Here Jesse is communing with a video projection of Bernie Worrel (known for his keyboard and production work with Parliament and Funkadelic),who recorded a background track specifically for this performance. Hear Jesse Rae on Juneau records.
I think these guys from Scotland are called “Prairie Oysters.” They fired spud guns at plywood cutouts of various British historical and political figures to abrasive rock and roll.
The spud guns were powered by compressed gas fed to the guns by this orange tubing. The lovely assistants rammed the condoms full of jelly and spaghetti down the barrels with baseball bats. At the end of the performance they let the gas resonate within the guns producing a lovely didjeridoo effect.
Jelly on the targets. Margaret Thatcher’s head is peeking out from behind the horseman’s axe.
The spirited “Guitar Situations” are also in the Juneau stable.
I was approached by the nascent Juneau Records (Ben Sadler, above, and Phillip Duckworth, below) to do some music for their ongoing project for the Romantic Detachment exhibition at PS1 in Queens. They found me and my Gametone Instruments online.
Phil and Ben gave me carte blanche to take their songs, recorded as teenagers, and do whatever I wanted with or to them. They brought me their CD last Thursday, and I brought the first piece up to PS1 on Saturday. Ben is from London, and Phil from Birmingham.Download the MP3, Emergency
Bent bamboo structure constructed in the PS1 courtyard. Admission is free on Saturday between 12 and 2.. Next Saturday afternoon there is going to be rock music accompanied by spud gun destruction for the Romantic Detachment exhibit. That sounds worth the trip, doesn’t it? PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave at the intersection of 46th Ave in Long Island City, 11101. Take the E or V to 23 St/Ely Ave. Exit onto 44th to Jackson Ave. Walk two blocks south on Jackson to 46th Ave. Please note that the V train does not run on weekends.
Across the street from PS1 there is an impressive black and white graffiti mural covering most of the front of a building on Jackson Avenue.
And a some beautiful smaller pieces along the side street.
