Go Superlambanana, go.
July 25, 2008 8:50 AM Subscribe
Superlambananas are creatures about the size of a cow which have recently been herded through Liverpool and beyond, and been photographed all over the place. One particularly animated beast has recently escaped and its owners are looking for information to aid its re-capture, though its larger ancestor is still in place (for now).
Actually, they've been extremely popular, which is why I thought they'd be worth posting about. Its been far more inclusive than you'd expect it to be. Example.
posted by feelinglistless at 8:57 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by feelinglistless at 8:57 AM on July 25, 2008
Hi there! Apparently I'm new to this universe, so let me just get oriented by asking a few questions.
It's not a real animal, right? Also, I would like to see some pictures of cows and horses being herded through Manhattan. My universe has Piss Christ already, so no need to show me that.
Now, I better call what I remember to be my phone number and see who answers...
posted by DU at 9:00 AM on July 25, 2008
It's not a real animal, right? Also, I would like to see some pictures of cows and horses being herded through Manhattan. My universe has Piss Christ already, so no need to show me that.
Now, I better call what I remember to be my phone number and see who answers...
posted by DU at 9:00 AM on July 25, 2008
If you get three females together, you'll have Superlambananarama.
posted by grounded at 9:14 AM on July 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by grounded at 9:14 AM on July 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
And if those women are Democrats, they'll vote for SuperlambananaramaObama
posted by DU at 9:16 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by DU at 9:16 AM on July 25, 2008
And if we play The Name Game with this one.... oh, forget it.
posted by grounded at 9:18 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by grounded at 9:18 AM on July 25, 2008
Oh dear. I feel like petting it and peeling it at the same time.
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:32 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:32 AM on July 25, 2008
Also, I would like to see some pictures of cows and horses being herded through Manhattan.
Take your pick of animals:
Boom!
Bam!
Kapow!
posted by spicynuts at 9:36 AM on July 25, 2008
Take your pick of animals:
Boom!
Bam!
Kapow!
posted by spicynuts at 9:36 AM on July 25, 2008
actually, they've been extremely popular
So are Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and NASCAR. Your point?
posted by spicynuts at 9:37 AM on July 25, 2008
So are Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and NASCAR. Your point?
posted by spicynuts at 9:37 AM on July 25, 2008
Ah yes, yet another in a long line of attempts by city governments to raise funds and profile by selling the rights to cover large statues of animals in company livery, only to be semi-abandoned months afterwards when drunken louts start vandalizing them in earnest. The idea of basing these statues on a fake animal is neat, though. Even better if they were covered in some sort of rubber that felt exactly like a banana peel.
posted by chrominance at 9:59 AM on July 25, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by chrominance at 9:59 AM on July 25, 2008 [1 favorite]
Interestingly enough, a Google image search for "cows in manhattan" returns this
posted by spicynuts at 10:00 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by spicynuts at 10:00 AM on July 25, 2008
Here in Rhode Island, we used to have giant Mr. Potato Head statues.
I'm so very glad they're gone.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:06 AM on July 25, 2008
I'm so very glad they're gone.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:06 AM on July 25, 2008
chrominance: Having read the FAQ at the main website, you'll know they'll only be in situ until the end of August when they're too be auctioned off for charity, and that there is a repair team on constant call out should any of them be vandalised in the mean time. Oh and that they're made of fibre glass yet covered in a variety of materials. So you'll already agree that this usual state of affairs doesn't apply here.
posted by feelinglistless at 10:09 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by feelinglistless at 10:09 AM on July 25, 2008
In Toronto, we had to suffer with moose statues a few years ago. A number of the ugly things are still lurking around.
posted by Kabanos at 10:15 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by Kabanos at 10:15 AM on July 25, 2008
So you'll already agree that this usual state of affairs doesn't apply here.
No I won't.
posted by spicynuts at 10:23 AM on July 25, 2008
No I won't.
posted by spicynuts at 10:23 AM on July 25, 2008
Two things that never mix: civic committees, and art.
posted by InterfaceLeader at 10:25 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by InterfaceLeader at 10:25 AM on July 25, 2008
Stick with the Beatles, Liverpool.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:30 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:30 AM on July 25, 2008
I remember when they did the decorated cows in Chicago a few years ago. It was actually pretty cool to see how different artists approached the subject. They all had the same canvas (in a manner of speaking) and came up with wildly different end results.
posted by quin at 10:36 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by quin at 10:36 AM on July 25, 2008
Veruca Salt: Hey, Daddy, I want a Superlambanana. I want you to get me a Superlambanana right away.
Mr. Salt: All right, Veruca, all right. I'll get you one before the day is out.
Veruca Salt: I want a Superlambanana now!
Violet Beauregarde: Can it, you nit!
posted by not_on_display at 10:52 AM on July 25, 2008
Mr. Salt: All right, Veruca, all right. I'll get you one before the day is out.
Veruca Salt: I want a Superlambanana now!
Violet Beauregarde: Can it, you nit!
posted by not_on_display at 10:52 AM on July 25, 2008
spicynuts: I wasn't talking to you snarkypants
posted by feelinglistless at 10:53 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by feelinglistless at 10:53 AM on July 25, 2008
spicynuts: I wasn't talking to you snarkypants
I know, but my snarkypants do not discriminate.
posted by spicynuts at 11:02 AM on July 25, 2008
I know, but my snarkypants do not discriminate.
posted by spicynuts at 11:02 AM on July 25, 2008
they look as if they've met the same fate as Tommy "Banana" Johnson.
posted by scruss at 11:11 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by scruss at 11:11 AM on July 25, 2008
In Toronto, we had to suffergiggle with moose statues a few years ago. A number of the uglyfucking awesomely kitschy things are still lurking around.
FTFY.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:22 AM on July 25, 2008
FTFY.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:22 AM on July 25, 2008
I think possibly you don't understand the definition of kitsch.
posted by spicynuts at 11:35 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by spicynuts at 11:35 AM on July 25, 2008
Here it is/was painted smudge pots, underscoring the gradual disappearance of pear orchards from our valley.
This meme is waaaay past its pull date.
posted by everichon at 11:54 AM on July 25, 2008
This meme is waaaay past its pull date.
posted by everichon at 11:54 AM on July 25, 2008
It's every city's city council rite of passage to green light some kind of standardized template livestock art distributed around the metropolitan area.
Does anybody know how this all got started? What was the first city to pull the livestock template stunt?
posted by bookish at 12:16 PM on July 25, 2008
Does anybody know how this all got started? What was the first city to pull the livestock template stunt?
posted by bookish at 12:16 PM on July 25, 2008
Hm, Wikipedia says it started in Zurich in 1998, with cows, and rose to international prominence when Chicago did their Cow Parade in '99. If that's the case, this is the 10 year anniversary of the phenomenon. Strange world we live in.
posted by bookish at 12:29 PM on July 25, 2008
posted by bookish at 12:29 PM on July 25, 2008
The original Superlambanana, though fairly recent, has become an iconic Liverpool sculpture (not unlike, for example, the Minneapolis Spoonbridge and Cherry). When it first arrived in 1998 it was widely derided, but I think Liverpool has come to affectionately embrace it as a quirky symbol of what is a very unique and proud city. It is most definitely not something that has been invented to promote the city as the 2008 Capital of Culture. I do like how they've had them designed by various artists, schools and community groups and move them all around the city. The John Lennon one is not far from my house.
This one is my absolute fave, though I've no idea where it is. Flickr has lots of great shots of the little lambananas.
posted by triggerfinger at 12:46 PM on July 25, 2008
This one is my absolute fave, though I've no idea where it is. Flickr has lots of great shots of the little lambananas.
posted by triggerfinger at 12:46 PM on July 25, 2008
I think possibly you don't understand the definition of kitsch.
I think you are entirely wrong.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:14 PM on July 25, 2008
I think you are entirely wrong.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:14 PM on July 25, 2008
Gawd the things that pass for art in public these days! Dig this crap from Tampa:
Lettuce tell you about Manatee Menagerie…
Following the successes of the Tampa Bay Tour of Turtles, BowWow Haus and Chairs for Chairity, the Outdoor Arts Foundation is proud to introduce Manatee Menagerie, the largest public display of artistically designed fiberglass Manatees ever seen.
Can't speak for your burg, but these are the people to blame where I come from.
I do not like them on bit.
posted by HappyHippo at 2:03 PM on July 25, 2008
Lettuce tell you about Manatee Menagerie…
Following the successes of the Tampa Bay Tour of Turtles, BowWow Haus and Chairs for Chairity, the Outdoor Arts Foundation is proud to introduce Manatee Menagerie, the largest public display of artistically designed fiberglass Manatees ever seen.
Can't speak for your burg, but these are the people to blame where I come from.
I do not like them on bit.
posted by HappyHippo at 2:03 PM on July 25, 2008
Austin hasn't done bovines or imaginary animals (yet), but we did have 10 foot tall Gibson guitars decorated by artists and sprinkled around town for a while. They were pretty nifty.
posted by Orb at 4:10 PM on July 25, 2008
posted by Orb at 4:10 PM on July 25, 2008
Its been far more inclusive than you'd expect it to be.
Inclusive? That sounds unpleasant.
posted by robself at 12:42 AM on July 26, 2008
Inclusive? That sounds unpleasant.
posted by robself at 12:42 AM on July 26, 2008
not unlike, for example, the Minneapolis Spoonbridge and Cherry
Except the Spoonbridge and Cherry is awesome, and the lambbanana is shit. However, it is the perfect symbol for the whole Capital of Culture 2008 event, which is similarly slick, corporate and completely lacking in interest or imagination.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:16 AM on July 26, 2008
Except the Spoonbridge and Cherry is awesome, and the lambbanana is shit. However, it is the perfect symbol for the whole Capital of Culture 2008 event, which is similarly slick, corporate and completely lacking in interest or imagination.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:16 AM on July 26, 2008
I think possibly you don't understand the definition of kitsch.
I think you are entirely wrong.
I stand corrected:
1. Sentimentality or vulgar, often pretentious bad taste, especially in the arts
2. something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.
I had thought that the sentimentality part was crucial to kitsch - it had to harken back to some other period. Seems not. In light of this, yeah, this shit is kitsch, but not any kitsch I'd want to be part of.
posted by spicynuts at 7:31 AM on July 26, 2008
I think you are entirely wrong.
I stand corrected:
1. Sentimentality or vulgar, often pretentious bad taste, especially in the arts
2. something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.
I had thought that the sentimentality part was crucial to kitsch - it had to harken back to some other period. Seems not. In light of this, yeah, this shit is kitsch, but not any kitsch I'd want to be part of.
posted by spicynuts at 7:31 AM on July 26, 2008
Many people in Toronto--yours truly included--take a certain amount of pride in the Moose That The Mad Mayor built. Ironic, self-deprecating pride, maybe.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:14 PM on July 26, 2008
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:14 PM on July 26, 2008
> spicynuts: Interestingly enough, a Google image search for "cows in manhattan" returns this
I thought for sure that was going to be a "Sex and the City" jab.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:14 PM on July 26, 2008
I thought for sure that was going to be a "Sex and the City" jab.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:14 PM on July 26, 2008
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posted by spicynuts at 8:53 AM on July 25, 2008 [3 favorites]