what to do on the plinth?
August 20, 2009 10:55 AM   Subscribe

What should my friend do on the fourth plinth?

So my very good friend has been given a spot on the fourth plinth - exciting! She, however, is struggling to come up with something interesting to do up there for her hour, and is looking for help.

We're looking for something artistic, engaging, unique... anything goes. She's more interested in something artsy more than promoting any particular issues. Difficulty? Her time slot is 1 - 2 am on a weekday. This will be in September as well so rain could be a real possibility. She just wants to avoid being one of those people who spend the whole time on their mobiles or staring over the edge blankly. So, what would you like to see someone do?

For those not familiar live with the project, a live webcam of the plinth is here
posted by vodkaboots to Media & Arts (16 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Stand on her head
posted by A189Nut at 11:00 AM on August 20, 2009


Fire twirling, light sabering, glow-in-the-dark shirt making. Light needs to be there.
posted by mdonley at 11:01 AM on August 20, 2009


Tap dance
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:10 AM on August 20, 2009


Best answer: Get a tank of helium, a pack of balloons, some string, and a bunch of LED throwies. By the end of the hour, she'll have a beautiful floating art installation all around her.
posted by Diagonalize at 11:10 AM on August 20, 2009 [7 favorites]


Do a skit! With audience participation!
posted by ocherdraco at 11:19 AM on August 20, 2009


If it rains, she should definitely get in touch with her inner Gene Kelly.
posted by Diagonalize at 11:24 AM on August 20, 2009


I saw a production of A Few Good Men where one element of the set was a soldier atop a sentry post of sorts. Throughout the play, he turned around in a circle, but so slowly that it was just about impossible to catch him in motion. You'd see him standing there, facing the audience, then the next time you looked up from the play, he'd be facing 3 o'clock. The next time, five o'clock, and so forth. It was fascinating, though I'm sure torturous for him.
posted by xingcat at 12:03 PM on August 20, 2009


What about flagging, with glow sticks set into the flag grips. She could also check out the Burning Man photo galleries for some inspiration.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:36 PM on August 20, 2009


Are people really on their cell phones up there?
I'd be boring, but not that boring.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 1:11 PM on August 20, 2009


Declaim the index for the London A-Z.
posted by Dr.Pill at 2:22 PM on August 20, 2009


Response by poster: Diagonalize, that is really cool. Definitely going to have to look into that one!
posted by vodkaboots at 3:54 PM on August 20, 2009


Purple Wig, stuffed cat, and singing the Grace Brothers theme as a tribute to Mollie Sugden? That'll fill a few minutes, it's British but we people in the States know what's going on and it's just kind of cool. And if it does rain, she can quote Mrs. Slocombe's line about how her pussy hates getting wet.
posted by deezil at 4:53 PM on August 20, 2009


Off a cream practice tee such as that, I'd be tempted to drive a few balls, or hit fungo to the crowd, probably, for safety, using whiffleballs or nerfballs, rather than real baseballs. You could even pack Whiffle balls with candy, or other light weight mementos for the crowd (maybe even paper "fortunes," like Chinese cookie stuffings). At 1 a.m., you're probably not going to need too many things to toss to passerby, to get and keep attention...
posted by paulsc at 5:43 PM on August 20, 2009


Glad I could help. Please let us know how it goes, whatever she ends up doing!
posted by Diagonalize at 8:45 PM on August 20, 2009


If your friend plays the drums, get her up there playing a wee spongebob kit!
posted by Cantdosleepy at 3:03 AM on August 21, 2009


I put my name in for the plinth but didn't get selected. I always thought I'd just do a nod to classic surrealism.

Maybe wear a 19th-century suit and a big bird head. Perhaps a sewing machine and an umbrella too.
posted by vacapinta at 3:16 PM on August 26, 2009


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