Graffiti artists work over model CTA trains in exhibit
Street artists get to show their stuff legally tonight at the A.Okay Loves CTA (Chicago Train Art) show. About 50 urban artists use O-scale model trains for their tagging pleasure in the show at A Okay Official from 6 to 10 pm Friday (tonight) at 3270 N. Clark St.
One of the featured artists is Solve, who caused a stir this week on the Blue Line when he did an installation piece on seat near the Hobo Corner.
He stenciled the words "We are experiencing legal difficulties" on a TV, plugged it into the secret outlet, and sent it on its merry way into the morning CTA rush hour.
The Chicago Reader did some detective work and reported on it here. More of Solve's art is here.
Wow. You can plug something in, and abandon it, and no one thinks it's a suspicious package worthy of reporting?
"Hmmm. It's suspcious looking, but I've got to get to work, so I'll take a chance that it won't blow up before my stop."
Posted by: Rusty | February 15, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Rusty, it's a working television. Not very suspicious looking to me (not even considering that I already knew who Solve was).
Posted by: Candice | February 15, 2008 at 07:56 PM
So something plugged into the power with a working video display is LESS suspicious than a briefcase?
Hmmm.
In my book, any abandoned property in a soft-target area like a train is suspicious. Being plugged into a power source makes it even more suspicious. A working video display and a familiar logo doesn't mitigate that.
And that doesn't even what can happen if it really is just a TV, and it falls off that seat.
Sorry, but this stunt is just reeking with irresponsiblity, and that no one took any action illustrates either how unknowing, or how uncaring people are.
Which is better? Apathy or ignorance?
Either way, it's a fine illustration of how some day we might be watching friends and neighbors on TV crying "I never thought it could happen here." Obviously it can when people ignore or marginalize what are very real danger signals. And an abandoned TV plugged in on the El certainly falls into that category.
Posted by: Rusty | February 16, 2008 at 01:04 PM
If I'd been that person standing there I'd be sitting and the tv would be on the floor.
Posted by: Cheryl | February 17, 2008 at 09:27 AM
It turns out that the bomb squad was called. http://forestparkreview.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=2964&TM=80017.23
Posted by: Ann | February 21, 2008 at 09:13 PM