Art Bombing the Bathroom
Posted on May 26, 2011 – 10:20 PM | by OldManFoster
I can’t 100% vouch for this, but I’m pretty sure it’s real: Artist Jairus Tonel has art-bombed the Crocker. The artist has been secretly installing his work in bathrooms around town, but this takes it up a notch. I’m not sure how he even managed to get 150 paintings into the museum without arousing suspicion, but according to the real-looking photos on his blog, it happened.
I like Tonel’s work and we featured an interview with the artist a few months back, and he hinted at this, but wow, I didn’t realize he was serious. I’m guessing this won’t last long, so if you’ve been meaning to check out the Crocker, here’s a reason to do it, like, now.
13 Responses to “Art Bombing the Bathroom”
By Daniel on May 27, 2011 | Reply
Oh, this is very real. I was there last thursday and it is on the second floor of the unisex bathroom. For some reason this installation holds it’s weight against all the other paintings in that museum.
By Robin Koltenuk on May 27, 2011 | Reply
Well, the art is real, the “bombing” part, not so much. If you are having a hard time imagining how Tonel got 150 paintings into the building without arousing suspicion, it’s because he didn’t. Tonel’s work is indeed hanging in the restrooms on the third floor, but the installation was approved of and supervised by the Museum’s Director, Lial A. Jones, and Chief Curator and Associate Director Scott Shields prior to hanging.
Not to be too much of a buzz-kill though. The Crocker was genuinely yarn-bombed (twice) earlier this year. The yarn bomber’s legacy can be seen on the sign pole in front of the Museum.
Bombing of all sorts aside, there are thousands of great reasons to check out the Crocker now.
By Robin on May 28, 2011 | Reply
Did I say the third floor? Correction. Make that the second floor…and it’s still up if you’re curious.
By Karen on May 28, 2011 | Reply
Do you really think somebody could hang 150 photos in a gallery while it’s open including a woman’s bathroom without anyone noticing? People are so gullible.
By Karen on May 28, 2011 | Reply
*women’s
By Andrew Ford on May 28, 2011 | Reply
Art bomb or not I still think it’s great that The Crocker actually embraced this style of art. As a fan of street/guerilla art I am surprise, and pleased, this was actually approved. I’ve actually seen one of his installations at Old Soul and I’d rather walk into a bathroom with art like that than some of that ugly graffiti I would normally see in most bathrooms.
Now that I know that it’s still up I think I will swing by The Crocker this weekend and check it out.
By omf on May 28, 2011 | Reply
Apparently Karen has never seen two motivated people with a baby carriage with art and double sided foam tape hidden in it. Five minutes if you’re good, ten if you’re not.
By Jeff on May 29, 2011 | Reply
You would be surprise what you can fit in an extra large timbuk2 bag. This guy’s work is great and Sacramento needs more street art/guerilla style activity like that yarn bombing and his art frame installations. Let’s due away with the horrible throw up graffiti and boring stencils. Everyone wants to be Banksy now a days.
If more people put out quality work for free for the public to either have or view Sacramento is well on their way to being properly respected.
Everyone wants to be Banksy now a days.
By livmoe on May 31, 2011 | Reply
@Jeff, actually I think putting quality art out there to the public for free is not the solution. Encouraging the community to support local artists is the way to bring up Sacramento. The fact of the matter is that we can’t really do this stuff for free all the time despite the fact that most of us do.
Contrary to popular belief artists don’t live on rainbows and air.
By livmoe on May 31, 2011 | Reply
P.S. that said I think Tonel’s piece is great, kudos to the Crocker for thinking outside the white box.
By periwinkle on Jun 4, 2011 | Reply
Jeff, it’s spelled “do.”
By Larry A. on Jun 7, 2011 | Reply
This is pure genius from both parties.
@Liv I understand where you are coming from, but the only way the community can support such artists is for those artist to actually put their work out there for us to see. Not all of us go to galleries and art shows and it is always an exciting feeling to walk into something like this. Keith Haring did just that and New York embraced it.
@Robin I will be visiting the Crocker this Thursday night, is that installation still available for viewing?
By Liv Moe on Jun 7, 2011 | Reply
@Larry We already do put our work out there for free, in the form of 2nd Sat where art hangs in everything from bars and hair salons to galleries, not to mention the SNR boxes all over town (no artists don’t get compensated for that beyond materials to my understanding), and more charity art auctions than I can count on both hands just to name a few. In general I feel like I work with a lot of artists in the community, myself included, who put work out there for nothing. I’m often happy to do it but a little support goes a long way.