Geostationary Banana Over Texas

December 28, 2006 5:57 PM

Geostationary Banana Over Texasis an art intervention that involves placing a gigantic banana over the Texas sky. This object will float between the high atmosphere & Earth's low orbit, being visible only from the state of Texas & its surroundings. From the ground, the banana will be clearly recognizable and visible day & night; it will stay up for approximately one month.
posted by jonson (98 comments total)

Bananaphone?
posted by loquacious at 5:59 PM on December 28, 2006

OMG that is so awesome. Banana!
posted by loquacious at 6:01 PM on December 28, 2006

haha this is awesome
posted by lazaruslong at 6:02 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

I don't know what I would do with a million dollars, but "put a giant banana over Texas" was not previously on my list.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:05 PM on December 28, 2006 [3 favorites has favorites]

Countdown to TX bashing... 3, 2, 1.....
posted by space2k at 6:05 PM on December 28, 2006

It'll never fly.
posted by jimfl at 6:06 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

Preemptive response to inevitable TX bashing:

You're just jealous because you don't have a space-banana.
posted by sanko at 6:08 PM on December 28, 2006

Now, if we could just project it into GWB's ass, this would be a worthwhile project....
posted by HuronBob at 6:09 PM on December 28, 2006

Blasphemy! (Links may be NSFW.)
posted by Saydur at 6:11 PM on December 28, 2006

Go Banana!

/ralph
posted by SAC at 6:12 PM on December 28, 2006

(As an afterthought- Comment above refers to how putting a giant banana in geostationary orbit visible in the sky at all times really reminds me of some sort of worshipped idol. Honestly, if all of Texas worshipped a giant sky-banana, I'm not sure how I'd take it...)
posted by Saydur at 6:14 PM on December 28, 2006

Don't mess with the space banana.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:14 PM on December 28, 2006

um...
posted by niles at 6:18 PM on December 28, 2006

CHRIST
WHAT
AN
ASSHOLE
posted by wfrgms at 6:19 PM on December 28, 2006

Honestly, if all of Texas worshipped a giant sky-banana,

If!?
posted by loquacious at 6:20 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

Sweet. That might be a good reason to go to Texas.

"Honey, pack the car! We're goin' banana-sightin'!"
posted by luftmensch at 6:20 PM on December 28, 2006

ring ring ring ring ring...
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:22 PM on December 28, 2006

Oh, sure. Now all the other states can have banana envy.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:23 PM on December 28, 2006

This may yet redeem my opinion of Texas.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:24 PM on December 28, 2006

It certainly has appeal.
posted by ColdChef at 6:25 PM on December 28, 2006 [3 favorites has favorites]

Everything is bigger in Texas, and floats.
posted by tehloki at 6:26 PM on December 28, 2006

Slipstream.
posted by Dizzy at 6:29 PM on December 28, 2006

When the ones called artists call their work useless, absurd and banal, why does the population feel compelled to be worship it? 1984 is often invoked on behalf of politics, but what of art. Bad is Good. Who Controls the Past Controls the Future. The Child is a Man. The artist laughs as we bow down to his fool wisdom. Oh the REACTION AND ANGER...it must be very good art indeed. Spit-touie. Ding!
posted by wallstreet1929 at 6:30 PM on December 28, 2006

You've been saving this one, haven't you, jonson? Checking every day, just to be sure no one's posted the geostationary banana over Texas yet. Oh, I can see right through you, bucko.
posted by yhbc at 6:30 PM on December 28, 2006

Let it be known: I will go to Texas if & when this project bears fruit (see what I did there?).
posted by jonson at 6:31 PM on December 28, 2006

The banana at night is big and bright,
*clap clap clap clap*
Deep in the heart of Texas!

The fruit-filled sky, is wide and high,
*clap clap clap clap*
Deep in the heart of Texas!
posted by fandango_matt at 6:32 PM on December 28, 2006 [3 favorites has favorites]

Actually, commish, I'm so desperate to win that I funded the G.B.O.T. project with my own money and this is totally a self-link.
posted by jonson at 6:32 PM on December 28, 2006

If it works, it will be one step forward for art, one GIANT LEAP for annoying advertising.

Advertising exec:
"What? A banana? A crummy highway billboard costs us nearly that much, and you're saying we could be putting "Coke Adds Life" in the sky for a MONTH for the same money? Get me Graf Zepplin on the phone! Oh - and lights! I want it to be flashing - y'know, like those eye-catching banner ads on the web!"
posted by -harlequin- at 6:34 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

I see your Texan Space Banana and raise you one Swedish Moon Cottage.
posted by Zero Gravitas at 6:34 PM on December 28, 2006

Sky art is cool.
posted by gurple at 6:37 PM on December 28, 2006

wallstreet1929:

Think of it more like an epic battle that has been waged for a century now (ie since photography broke the popular function of art and left it high and dry in the elitist camp). Traders have been making money from art, and (some) artists have been developing new methods of production that will deny trade and value in the works. With each new innovation in the battle against the dollar, new counter-innovations have been found to assign and trade value on the work in other ways.

I don't think these guys are in that militant camp though. I think they're in the "we do this because it would ROCK SO HARD!" camp of artists :)
posted by -harlequin- at 6:43 PM on December 28, 2006

Now THAT is so big and so dumb, it's perfect for Texas.
"There's only three things that come outta Texas, Beers, Steers, and Giant Bananas... now you ain't yellow and you ain't got horns, so what does that make you?"
I guess that only works if you're yelling at your six pack....
posted by eparchos at 6:43 PM on December 28, 2006

-harlequin- nailed why this is a terrible idea. If they can do this, there is nothing stopping KFC and Geico and AOL from doing much, much worse. Imagine your sky full of giant blinking Pepsi and Coke cans.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 6:53 PM on December 28, 2006

Kraftmatic:
Anybody who lives in the Southwest already knows the pain of dealing with a landscape full of billboards. I say give the tree-people and other lowlanders some giant floating Pepsi cans, we'll see how THEY like it.
posted by eparchos at 6:58 PM on December 28, 2006

I thought the exact same thing as -harlequin-, if this works, it's going to totally change advertising in the most irritating of ways.

Don't get me wrong, giant flying bananas are a magnificent idea. But I just fear what this will lead to when marketing-drones get wind of the concept.
posted by quin at 6:59 PM on December 28, 2006

I don't suppose anyone cares that this is impossible because Texas isn't on the equator? (Yeah, I'm a geek. I'm proud to be a geek. What's it to you?)
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:00 PM on December 28, 2006

Legal aspects in relation to this project are practically non-existent. There is no law or regulations for any kind of traffic at these altitudes. United States aviation and aerospace laws does not contemplate any ruling above 25.000 meters of altitude. Further, the United Nations has a treaty for outer space regulation; however, it does not provide any rule for high altitude or near-space intervention.

Whoda thunk?
posted by nickyskye at 7:00 PM on December 28, 2006

Though I am now struck with a great idea for an art piece of my own. It involves taking one of these and painting it to look like this. Then I'd take my project, point it at their project, press the button, and have the two connect in a most spectacular way.

Much fun would be had by all!
posted by quin at 7:08 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

When I clicked on the link and saw that the page was available in three languages, of which only two are spoken in Texas, I was struck with an "of course!" -- I almost can't imagine a project like this being pulled off without the involvement of francophones. Am I racist?

Of course, when I read a little more about what they plan to do, I have trouble imagining them pulling it off, even with the francophones. But I wish them luck.
posted by pinespree at 7:19 PM on December 28, 2006

Not to be confused with the banana bunker .
posted by dropkick at 7:22 PM on December 28, 2006

Man, that is awesome.
posted by graventy at 7:32 PM on December 28, 2006

I, for one, welcome our ban....
Oh forget it.

ColdChef: I'm sorry to say I actually laughed at your pun.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:32 PM on December 28, 2006

visible only from the state of Texas & its surroundings

Cool! I wonder if I'll be able to see it from Kansas.
posted by amyms at 7:34 PM on December 28, 2006

Aww, I'm disappointed those involved aren't actually Texan. It's a bunch a French-Canadians, non?
posted by lunalaguna at 7:36 PM on December 28, 2006

I'd like to imagine any stratospheric advertising over Texas would be promptly dealt with by the fine folks at Armadillo Aerospace. but i like to imagine lots of things
posted by phooky at 7:37 PM on December 28, 2006

The eyes of Banana are upon you.
All the live long day.
posted by brownpau at 7:42 PM on December 28, 2006

I've never missed Texas as much as I do right now. I didn't even grow up there, but it's exactly this kind of wonky shit that makes me love the place.

Also, every time a Korean asks where I'm from and I say "Texas" they give me thumbs up and go "George Bushie!"
posted by Brittanie at 7:46 PM on December 28, 2006

I don't know what I would do with a million dollars, but "put a giant banana over Texas" was not previously on my list.

How about a refrigerator-sized apricot over Rhode Island?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:53 PM on December 28, 2006

There's going to be a lot of confused stoners in Austin.."DUDE! Did you see that??"

Man, when I moved here from NYC I didn't know I was trading the Big Apple for the Space Banana.
posted by emjaybee at 8:00 PM on December 28, 2006

L. Frank Baum's fevered imagination finally makes sense.
posted by rob511 at 8:05 PM on December 28, 2006

For some reason I want it to have the identifying sticker on it, too, like they do at the grocery store.
posted by pril at 8:24 PM on December 28, 2006

I think is idea is completely brilliant. I don't see it working from a physics standpoint though.
posted by !Jim at 8:33 PM on December 28, 2006

There are no bananas in the sky (in the sky)
There are no bananas in the sky (in the sky)
There's a Sun, and a Moon, and a Coconut Cream Pie;
But there are no bananas in the sky (in the sky)
posted by jazon at 8:38 PM on December 28, 2006

It would be even cooler if they made it out of real lions!
posted by trip and a half at 8:45 PM on December 28, 2006

There is no law or regulations for any kind of traffic at these altitudes.

...well, there's always the Laws of Physics. And you don't get to break those.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:58 PM on December 28, 2006

How about a refrigerator-sized apricot over Rhode Island?

I guess living in Rhode Island, I would get much more personal enjoyment out of a geostationary refrigerator-sized apricot over Cranston than I would a giant banana over Texas, so yeah, more likely candidate for my million dollars.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:59 PM on December 28, 2006

This is great even if dubious. I'm curious how it would be visible at night though. But I bet it would look great at sunset. Imagine a giant pink banana floating over Texas.
posted by chairface at 9:03 PM on December 28, 2006

      IN UR SKYS
    ".           ,#  
    \ `-._____,-'=/
     `._ ----- _,'
        `-----'
  PERPLEXIN UR REDNEKS

posted by wfrgms at 9:13 PM on December 28, 2006 [11 favorites has favorites]

This is either a hoax or a sad testament to the lack of science literacy in this country. I guess reading the thread, it's kind of both.

It's also kind of sad that so many people see yet another barrier to a good view of the night sky, as well as a method of annoying us with advertising at an unprecedented scale, as "neat." You know what's neat? Seeing the light of stars as they were at the time humans were still living in caves and hunting the woolly mammoth. Watching the soft glow of our galaxy actually cast shadows on the ground. Pondering our insignificance as we gaze at the majesty and sheer vastness of space. But hey, big banana. That's not banal. Dickholes.

No, I have no sense of humor, because I'm a dickhole.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:20 PM on December 28, 2006 [2 favorites has favorites]

This is either a hoax or a sad testament to the lack of science literacy in this country

Um.... them's not 'murrican. /cue sad testament to the sad state of reading comprehesion in this country.
posted by eparchos at 9:25 PM on December 28, 2006

How about a refrigerator-sized apricot over Rhode Island?

As a Rhode Islander, I'd have to say that'd be pretty neat. Bonus points if you position it so it's above The Big Blue Bug.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 9:30 PM on December 28, 2006

Where is the Texas bashing? I came here for some good Texas bashing damn it!
posted by tkchrist at 10:00 PM on December 28, 2006

If I was a more motivated type of person I would totally take this time to write up a freebird-style short fiction post that takes place in a post-peak oil/global warming-induced societal collapse future where subsitance-farmer natives, knowing nothing of technology toil the parched Texan soil under the watchful eye of the local land baron, looking up occasionally from their labor and speculate upon what their ancestors used such a thing for.
posted by sourwookie at 10:08 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

Maybe it's a floating memorial...
posted by paulinsanjuan at 10:37 PM on December 28, 2006

don't forget the more forgettable Stanley Marsh III's floating mesa in Amarillo, TX.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 10:40 PM on December 28, 2006

I find this offensive and obnoxious in so many ways. I am in dirigibleman's camp.
posted by carmina at 10:43 PM on December 28, 2006

Oh, for crying out loud. Lighten up.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:45 PM on December 28, 2006

How is it they think this can possibly work using bamboo and paper, things which are not air-tight as as far as I know. They are still asking for money and haven't even done any of the engineering work, so I doubt this will ever go anywhere.

I don't suppose anyone cares that this is impossible because Texas isn't on the equator? (Yeah, I'm a geek. I'm proud to be a geek. What's it to you?)

What does that have to do with balloon blimps? Or did you even read the article? Or use any common sense when you wrote that? I mean is there really some reason why a giant balloon like this would work at the equator and not above Texas? Or is it just that you thought they meant geostationary orbit? I mean no offense, but it seems like almost every post you make contains some factual inaccuracy.
posted by delmoi at 10:52 PM on December 28, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

Thank you delmoi.

Hopefully Steve will read your comment too.
posted by carmina at 11:04 PM on December 28, 2006

The proposed technology section is a joke to say the least. Especially how they are going to keep the banana geostationary. Laugh out Very loud. Ah, comical art. The Absurd. Now I get it.

Do they even know what geostationary means?
posted by carmina at 11:15 PM on December 28, 2006

OK... I think I've hit my "favorites limit" in one thread.... Damn bananas make me all giddy, must be the thin air.

Oh, BTW, delmoi, it's nylon and balsa wood....
posted by eparchos at 11:21 PM on December 28, 2006

What's next? Pie in the sky?
posted by StrangerInAStrainedLand at 11:35 PM on December 28, 2006

What's next? Pie in the sky?

Nah. America's had plenty of that already, for a long time now.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:55 PM on December 28, 2006

At first I was torn between repeating the "dont' give advertisers any ideas" comments above or the "Cool, a giant banana!" comments.

Then I read the "on the concept" and "proposed technology" sections of the page, and realized that this is nothing less than THE NEXT TIME CUBE...
posted by mmoncur at 12:15 AM on December 29, 2006

MetaFilter: PERPLEXIN UR REDNEKS
posted by loquacious at 2:30 AM on December 29, 2006 [2 favorites has favorites]

Also: of course it's not real, brainiacs. Jesus. If you guys would stop obsessing over your slide rules and pocket protectors for like 10 seconds you might actually get the punchline to a joke for once or even maybe get laid or something. Trust me, with the right girl, hell, sometimes even the wrong girl it's like a 1000x better than solving for x. Yeah, I know. Trust me, I don't say that lightly. At least 1000x better.
posted by loquacious at 2:39 AM on December 29, 2006

Eponysterical!
posted by notsnot at 4:16 AM on December 29, 2006

it's like a 1000x better than solving for x. Yeah, I know. Trust me, I don't say that lightly. At least 1000x better.

I'm sure you're right, loquacious, but all that "1000x" business, well, let's just say I'm not totally sure we can trust you with numbers... ;-)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:28 AM on December 29, 2006

With any luck, in the future, each country will be able to enjoy it's own geostationary fruit. I suggest we assign the kiwi to New Zealand straight away!
posted by Acey at 5:31 AM on December 29, 2006

My three-year-old asked to look at the banana in the sky again this morning. He said astronauts are going to eat it, and wishes we could have a banana in the sky.
posted by LoriFLA at 6:45 AM on December 29, 2006

It is amazing how many comments were in this thread before one with any intelligence. Crikey. Try Googling "geostationary orbit" and learning something rather than contributing to the Farkification of MeFi.

This completely goofy idea would have at least been entertaining if instead of a banana they had obtained the rights to produce a certain giant floating female Peanuts character made with diamonds.
posted by spock at 6:51 AM on December 29, 2006

Yeah, Spock, a giant banana's not logical --- but it sure is apeeling.
posted by DenOfSizer at 7:18 AM on December 29, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

A rat done bit my sister Nell
And Whitey is putting bananas in the sky
posted by Falconetti at 7:36 AM on December 29, 2006

If you guys would stop obsessing over your slide rules and pocket protectors for like 10 seconds you might actually get the punchline to a joke for once or even maybe get laid or something....with the right girl

Erm, can I get laid with the right boy? Cause I am more into boys. Or would that not do with your otherwise flawless argument?
posted by carmina at 7:41 AM on December 29, 2006

There's a yellow nanner'n Texas
That I am going to see...

ok I got nothin.
posted by Spatch at 8:53 AM on December 29, 2006

I haven't read all the details, but do they claim anywhere to be putting something into orbit? There's a vast difference between flying a balloon in a circle (albeit extremely high-altitude) and achieving geosynchronous orbit.

I'm not convinced that the concept would work, but some of the people saying OMG STOOPID seem to be missing the basic concept of what is being proposed.
posted by malocchio at 8:56 AM on December 29, 2006

What happens if you peel slowly and see?
posted by LionIndex at 9:40 AM on December 29, 2006

What happens if you peel slowly and see?

The Warrior Warhol returns and paints the soup can that ends the world.
posted by thecaddy at 10:08 AM on December 29, 2006

This is a daring action, defiant like a cowboy act.
And the banana is macho and phallic, they say.

It is in Texas because it has oil,
and a lot of Walmarts, Exxons and Halliburtons. (and The Ranch)

It is a buffoon act, trying to impress…
Texan dominant Aerospace, and all the Gun Clubs.

Canada Council for the Arts, funding

Conseil des Arts et des lettres du Quebec, funding

Canadians can sometimes be so insufferable in their attitude towards the US and especially the red states of the US. Maybe a banana in the sky is a funny idea, but as it primarily seems to be a tool for one culture to be snooty towards another, based on crude stereotypes, it's another project that makes the arts establishment in this country seem like a sinkhole for wankery at public expense. Public funding of the arts is usually sold as a worthwhile endeavour to tell our own stories and explore our society. I don't see how taking cheap shots at Texas meets that standard. Want to float a banana, float it over Hamilton. But maybe it has no meaning if we can't photoshop cowboys entranced by it.
posted by TimTypeZed at 10:14 AM on December 29, 2006

Shh, malocchio -- they're on a roll. Just eat your popcorn and watch the fun.
posted by forrest at 10:28 AM on December 29, 2006

*sits back down, passes sierra nevada to forrest*
posted by malocchio at 11:45 AM on December 29, 2006

geostationarybananaovertexas.com

best domain name evar.
posted by quonsar at 12:44 PM on December 29, 2006

“I for one am looking forward to eating some delicious Indian Mangos,” The Worst President in American History (and former Texas governor) said as he traded tropical fruit for nuclear proliferation.

Why not a giant tropical phallic in the Texas sky? This might remind Texans to think before they send us another idiot. Maybe this artsy stunt will remind good ol’ oil boys how they were screwed and bamboozled by a dumb Connecticut Yankee.

Maybe this sky banana is even a preview of coming attractions. Imagine: The sun sets over a Hollywood movie-set ranch as an aging Dubya Bush clears brush. He looks up, to see the beautiful sky darken and fill with floating propaganda.

Capitalists now have a fresh new advertising venue allowed by lax Republican environmental protection. Dubya looks down in shame as Corporation fill our sky with multi-national graffiti.
posted by BillyElmore at 1:39 PM on December 29, 2006

The skies have been filled with multi-national graffiti for a long time now.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 2:15 PM on December 29, 2006

That shit is bananas.
posted by NortonDC at 10:10 PM on December 29, 2006

Torturing apes all over the world.
I think its inhumane.
posted by petersn1 at 1:21 PM on December 31, 2006

I find it amusing that dirigibleman posted in this thread.
posted by grouse at 9:57 PM on January 4, 2007

Not sure if this is for real. But if it's not, it should be. Comparisons to David Weisner's beautiful book "June 29, 1999" are unavoidable.

The technical challenges are obvious, but the vision is disingenuously brilliant. And where better to fly a thousand foot long floating banana than over Texas?

There is something very Herzog-esque about busting your butt to put a real thousand foot banana at 30K feet over Texas when any fool could fake the picture in Photoshop in 5 minutes (think Fitzcaraldo).

I want to know why they're calling it "geostationary" when it will clearly move quickly with the wind out of Texas airspace? I think it would be way cooler if it floated all around the world.

And all our hominid ancestors smiled down upon us and shouted, "Woo hoo!"
posted by Broadside Affront at 11:42 AM on January 12, 2007