Brent Wahl & Oscar WahlMINEGlitter, dowels, Tinkertoys, acrylic, wood.The MINE Space Saver was made in collaboration with my 9 year old. For kids it reads as some nutty Tinkertoy project, but from an adult’s perspective, it is both goofy homage to the space saver and satire of the practice wrapped into one. My son is very clear about the ridiculousness of claiming a part of the street as your own, but I don’t think he understands how it is something akin to a lion guarding its den. After my son and I talked about how we could handle this project together, we decided that we should be more friendly and direct about the whole thing – we decided to just claim a spot as MINE! Pine St, between 20th and 21th: The word ‘MINE’, teamed with the paraphernalia of kindergarten (and visions of Richard Tuttle) seemed to cancel out any sort of potency or seriousness, but once it was put into use, it pushed buttons. After posting signage on a nearby tree explaining the project and the time limitations on its occupancy there, a determined homeowner came out in his pajamas and made a beeline for MINE. He proceeded in aggressively picking up MINE and carrying it onto the sidewalk where he slammed it to the ground. Unbeknownst to him I was standing two doors down…Our conversation went something like this:Me: That’s my space saver, would you like me to move it?Him: You can’t put this here – it’s illegal!Me: It’s part of a project referencing space savers that I made with my 9 year old.Him: This is ridiculous! Mayor Nutter came out condemning these things!Me: Well, this is actually not a typical space saver; it’s more of an art…Him: What if my 80-year-old grandmother needed to park here, what would she do?!?Me: Well, if you would like me to move it I would do so, but somebody else will just take the spot.Him: This is ridiculous - I hate these things!Me: Did you read the signage about the project?Him: Yes, and it’s ludicrous, it doesn’t make any sense. You are actually taking a spot!Me: I know, but it is only for a day. You could think of it as a criticism of the space saver tradition. Him: …but you’re keeping somebody else from using this spot…this is stupid.Me: I have permission to move down the street in front of your neighbors’ driveway, but it does not seem to carry the same meaning since nobody can park there anyway.Him: This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of!  Do you even live in this neighborhood, do you know how hard it is to park around here? Me: Well, I used to live 4 blocks from here and my in-laws live on this block, so I have a very clear picture of the difficulties. It is actually why I picked this block.Him: Why would you do this?Me: You clearly have very strong feelings about this.Him: Well, yeah, I’m standing here in my pajamas.Me: Do you see how this could be something that is not meant to harm anyone? It could actually draw attention to the ridiculous act of saving a space in the first place. Him: No, I don’t get it – it doesn’t make any sense…why would anyone do this?The anonymous man then reached out his hand, introduced himself, and offered to help me put it back into the same place (which he proceeded to do with me). I think he exhibited (with true bravery and then chivalry) what a touchy topic this actually is. Nevertheless, we never even got to any conversations about aesthetics or my love for Richard Tuttle.

Brent Wahl & Oscar Wahl
MINE

Glitter, dowels, Tinkertoys, acrylic, wood.

The MINE Space Saver was made in collaboration with my 9 year old. For kids it reads as some nutty Tinkertoy project, but from an adult’s perspective, it is both goofy homage to the space saver and satire of the practice wrapped into one. My son is very clear about the ridiculousness of claiming a part of the street as your own, but I don’t think he understands how it is something akin to a lion guarding its den. After my son and I talked about how we could handle this project together, we decided that we should be more friendly and direct about the whole thing – we decided to just claim a spot as MINE!

Pine St, between 20th and 21th: The word ‘MINE’, teamed with the paraphernalia of kindergarten (and visions of Richard Tuttle) seemed to cancel out any sort of potency or seriousness, but once it was put into use, it pushed buttons. After posting signage on a nearby tree explaining the project and the time limitations on its occupancy there, a determined homeowner came out in his pajamas and made a beeline for MINE. He proceeded in aggressively picking up MINE and carrying it onto the sidewalk where he slammed it to the ground. Unbeknownst to him I was standing two doors down…

Our conversation went something like this:
Me: That’s my space saver, would you like me to move it?
Him: You can’t put this here – it’s illegal!
Me: It’s part of a project referencing space savers that I made with my 9 year old.
Him: This is ridiculous! Mayor Nutter came out condemning these things!
Me: Well, this is actually not a typical space saver; it’s more of an art…
Him: What if my 80-year-old grandmother needed to park here, what would she do?!?
Me: Well, if you would like me to move it I would do so, but somebody else will just take the spot.
Him: This is ridiculous - I hate these things!
Me: Did you read the signage about the project?
Him: Yes, and it’s ludicrous, it doesn’t make any sense. You are actually taking a spot!
Me: I know, but it is only for a day. You could think of it as a criticism of the space saver tradition.
Him: …but you’re keeping somebody else from using this spot…this is stupid.
Me: I have permission to move down the street in front of your neighbors’ driveway, but it does not seem to carry the same meaning since nobody can park there anyway.
Him: This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of!  Do you even live in this neighborhood, do you know how hard it is to park around here?
Me: Well, I used to live 4 blocks from here and my in-laws live on this block, so I have a very clear picture of the difficulties. It is actually why I picked this block.
Him: Why would you do this?
Me: You clearly have very strong feelings about this.
Him: Well, yeah, I’m standing here in my pajamas.
Me: Do you see how this could be something that is not meant to harm anyone? It could actually draw attention to the ridiculous act of saving a space in the first place.
Him: No, I don’t get it – it doesn’t make any sense…why would anyone do this?

The anonymous man then reached out his hand, introduced himself, and offered to help me put it back into the same place (which he proceeded to do with me). I think he exhibited (with true bravery and then chivalry) what a touchy topic this actually is. Nevertheless, we never even got to any conversations about aesthetics or my love for Richard Tuttle.

This was posted 5 months ago. It has 1 note. .
  1. thespacesaversproject posted this