Window Installation

8’x 20’x 5′
Mannequins, clothing, lights
1991
The World Gallery; Asheville, North Carolina

Text seen in caption on windows:

“Hey . . . .  Hey you, listen, I need a little help.  I’ve got to get out of here.  This place isn’t for me.  I mean I didn’t choose to be here.  I was working in a respectable clothing store and this artist guy came in and KIDNAPPED me.  That’s right, I didn’t have a thing to say about it.  He just took me out of the store, put these . . . THINGS on me, and stuck me in the window.  How do you think I feel about it????  I’ll tell you how I feel.  I feel humiliated.  I feel like some kind of clown or something.”

“Listen, maybe you could just talk with the people who run this gallery.  It’s not a big deal; just explain to them—I’m not art . . . I’M A MANNEQUIN!  They’ll understand; surely they care about their reputation.  I mean art is pretty.  Art is something you can buy and put on your kitchen wall to make the place feel more homey.  I’m not art; just look at me.  ANYONE could do THIS.”

“Hey, I’ve got better things to do.  I could be selling clothes; maybe a hat or some shoes.  This is EMBARRASSING.  There must be something you can do.  Oh, I know, call the mayor’s office.  Yeah, call them and tell them this display is obscene; that will work.  They help out with situations like this.”

“Oh, I look like an idiot!  This is a real nightmare.  Why can’t this guy just paint some flowers or something?  If he had any talent maybe he would carve a sculpture in marble, you know, like some cute guy throwing a discus or something.  That’s what they have in museums. Listen, I don’t think I can take this much longer.  Please help me.  OK, here’s another idea:  you could carry a petition around to all the local business owners.  This kind of stuff probably hurts their business.  I bet they’ll do something. SOMEone has to do SOMEthing.  It’s probably clear to everyone except this weirdo artist that I’m not art.  I mean, just look, I’m talking to you.  I’m talking to you in a cartoon bubble!  Art is quiet.  Art doesn’t talk.”