Sex In The Public Square - art - Comments

Solstice art parades

Elizabeth — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:43:50 -0700

I think that the Mermaid Parade started as a "beginning of summer" + art parade. Here's a link to the official Mermaid Parade site. In addition to the parade there is a ritual "appeasing of the sea gods" and opening the beach for the summer. It involves King Neptun and the parade participants tossing fruit into the sea (and sometimes at each other).

In any case, I think the development resistance angle is very new. I don't remember that from the past two years.

I'd love to hear from folks about similar events around the country. Thanks for the links to the Santa Barbara and Seattle events. Others?

Looks fun

RC — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:30:26 -0700

It's remarkable that Coney Island has survived as long as it has. One of the stories they tell about Walt Disney was that visiting a carnival like Coney Island inspired him to build Disneyland, so the "sanitation" strategy has a quite a pedigree.

Is this parade part of the community resistence to development, or did it start as an art happening, ala the solstice parades in Santa Barbara , Seattle , etc.

Next Year's Mermaid Parade

Elizabeth — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:13:41 -0700

Thanks AmandaLC. Maybe next year we can get a Sex in the Public Square contingent together! It'll fall at about the time of the site's first birthday, too!

Wonderful photos! I'm very

AmandaLC — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:10:46 -0700

Wonderful photos! I'm very jealous now that I had to work and couldn't make it. It looks like it was a blast.

Naked Mermaids and Polar Bears

Elizabeth — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:52:28 -0700

JanieBelle, people in NY do swim in the Atlantic in the winter. Haven't you heard of the assorted polar bear clubs and whatnot? In fact, every New Years Day they swim right where the Mermaids will be on Saturday!

I think your virtual self should hop on a plane and join us! It's midsummer. You could handle it ;)

P.S.

JanieBelle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:18:59 -0700

It had something to do with naked mermaids.

I Hate New York

JanieBelle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:17:55 -0700

but only because I'm jealous of all the good stuff that goes on there.

On the other hand, I live at the beach, and I've even been swimming in the Atlantic on New Year's Day (2000 - the water was a little chilly, but not terribly so).

No damned way that's gonna happen in New York! HA!

umm.. I forgot the point of this comment. I'm going to bed.