The Fourth Plinth

Ghoulish Delight · 07-31-2009, 01:22 PM

Trafalgar Square in London is home to 4 large plinths. Three of them have statues of various historical British figures. The 4th was supposed to be home to a statue of William the IV, but funding ran out. Subsequently, no one managed to agree on what to put there, so it remained empty. In modern times it's become a platform (literally) for a rotating array of public art (when we visited this piece was there).

The current project is kinda cool. The artist has invited people to volunteer to be living art. Each volunteer gets 1 hour on the plinth, to do as they please (as long as it's legal). Props are allowed and encouraged.

A live stream of the plinth can be seen at the artist's group website. If the live stream is boring (it seems too often to be someone sitting and reading a book), here's a selection of videos of the more interesting bits so far.

So what would you do for an hour? I'd like to think I could come up with something clever, possibly involving an easel and a large notepad. But more than likely the most creative thing I'd come up with would be to bring a sketch pad and draw for an hour.

I would however love to see Chris do a 1 hour course on mixology while up there.

Alex · 07-31-2009, 01:27 PM

I'd probably lie down and try to be really hard to be seen. While I've most moved on my intense juvenile stage fright I still don't like knowing that I'm on camera. And I only become really comfortable if there's a lot of immediate feedback. Though maybe I'd hold up a sign saying "Is your job/life so boring that you have nothing better to do than watch me hold this sign?"

But I do love that fourth plinth. It is such a classical environment that when they put something unabashedly modern up (as was the case when we were there last October) there it gives an added layer that's nice.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-31-2009, 01:31 PM

Wait, you were there last October? That's when we were there. I wonder, not knowing the exact dates you were there, how close we came to crossing paths.

ETA: "not" <--- you dropped this

Alex · 07-31-2009, 01:35 PM

If I recall right, I don't believe we were there at the same time. We were really only in London for a day and a half (October 10 and 11). It was a layover on our way to Rome.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-31-2009, 01:40 PM

Ah yes, that does sound familiar. And it was September we were there, not October, now that I think about it.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-31-2009, 02:58 PM

Oops, just noticed the bad link in my OP.

Correct link to the live feed

Moonliner · 07-31-2009, 03:03 PM

Hummm..

Setup a scope with a good filter and project a large image of the sun onto a large white paper sheet.

lashbear · 07-31-2009, 06:10 PM

I'd probably do Corn Dog Masterclasses.

07-31-2009, 01:22 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	The Fourth Plinth Trafalgar Square in London is home to 4 large plinths. Three of them have statues of various historical British figures. The 4th was supposed to be home to a statue of William the IV, but funding ran out. Subsequently, no one managed to agree on what to put there, so it remained empty. In modern times it's become a platform (literally) for a rotating array of public art (when we visited this piece was there). The current project is kinda cool. The artist has invited people to volunteer to be living art. Each volunteer gets 1 hour on the plinth, to do as they please (as long as it's legal). Props are allowed and encouraged. A live stream of the plinth can be seen at the artist's group website. If the live stream is boring (it seems too often to be someone sitting and reading a book), here's a selection of videos of the more interesting bits so far. So what would you do for an hour? I'd like to think I could come up with something clever, possibly involving an easel and a large notepad. But more than likely the most creative thing I'd come up with would be to bring a sketch pad and draw for an hour. I would however love to see Chris do a 1 hour course on mixology while up there. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-31-2009, 01:27 PM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I'd probably lie down and try to be really hard to be seen. While I've most moved on my intense juvenile stage fright I still don't like knowing that I'm on camera. And I only become really comfortable if there's a lot of immediate feedback. Though maybe I'd hold up a sign saying "Is your job/life so boring that you have nothing better to do than watch me hold this sign?" But I do love that fourth plinth. It is such a classical environment that when they put something unabashedly modern up (as was the case when we were there last October) there it gives an added layer that's nice.
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07-31-2009, 01:31 PM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Wait, you were there last October? That's when we were there. I wonder, not knowing the exact dates you were there, how close we came to crossing paths. ETA: "not" <--- you dropped this __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-31-2009, 01:35 PM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	If I recall right, I don't believe we were there at the same time. We were really only in London for a day and a half (October 10 and 11). It was a layover on our way to Rome.
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07-31-2009, 01:40 PM	#5
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Ah yes, that does sound familiar. And it was September we were there, not October, now that I think about it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-31-2009, 02:58 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Oops, just noticed the bad link in my OP. Correct link to the live feed __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-31-2009, 03:03 PM	#7
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Hummm.. Setup a scope with a good filter and project a large image of the sun onto a large white paper sheet.
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07-31-2009, 06:10 PM	#8
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	I'd probably do Corn Dog Masterclasses. __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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