Be the Statue

Julie is the thinking frog | 8.09

2009-11-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

Adorable, no? Both the frog and my mother-in-law. This super cute statue sits (yes it does) outside the National Institute of Health building in Washington DC. My cousin-in-law works there (in the building, not the frog). Apparently my cousin-in-law and her mother (my aunt-in-law) helped coach my mother-in-law in her excellent pose. Good job team in-law!

In other news, my cousin-in-law should submit some statue photos. Yes she should. I'm pretty sure this kind of thing is right up her alley.

We're the camel | Tan Tan, Morocco | 10.09

2009-11-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

There's not a lot going on in Tan Tan, Morocco. I mean, depending on who you are, you might find it a thrill since it's in a country that some people call the Western Sahara and some people (namely the King) call Morocco. Disputed territory is always fun and risky. It's also near the Algerian border, where there's a nice little conflict/cease-fire right now.

This means that you will get stopped by the police while driving through this part of the country (which ever country you think it is), and you will have to prove that you have a reason to be there. That's tricky, because the real reason we went as far as Tan Tan was to see the "kissing camels" that flank the road into town.

The Lonely Planet book told me they were kissing. It's just not true. See how you can see the lips of this camel, and no lips of the other (female) camel? That's because they're not so much kissing as "facing one another separated by a road". So. I was a little disappointed. But no worries. Joe suggested that we could collectively BE the camel, and it was all okay. (He's the tail end. I'm the head. The camera was balanced on the back of the rented Fiat. Yes, the Fiat. We got it in Tiznit from Cosmo Cars, which was next to the Paris Pizza place and the film processing store.)

Sayra is a sealion

2009-11-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

It really doesn't get any better than this. Sayra sent this to me while I was in Morocco, and things have been a bit lax in the posting department around here. Well no more.

Sayra was pretty thrilled to send this to me, because it's finally a REAL submission. She is being the statue. Being it so much, in fact, that she's even wearing a wet suit. She says, and I quote,

"Finally, a real 'be the statue' submission. I am seriously BEING the statue, complete with sealion like-insulative suit. I would have raised my head a bit more but I would have lost all circulation to my head, and then it would have been a 'fall off the statue' entry. And nobody wants that."

True. No one wants anyone to get hurt in the process of being the statue. Even if it was funny. Safety first, dear submitters. Safety first.

Being Dirty Dan | 8.09

2009-08-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

Another submission from my long-lost high school friend, (reunited and it feels so good--via Facebook), Cara. Cara and I both migrated west from Minnesota, though she's waay up north in Bellingham. This submission comes after a long day of hiking when she and Hailey stoped at the Colophon for lunch and took this photo in Fairhaven Square with Dirty Dan Harris.

Not having been to Fairhaven Square, I had to look up both the Colophon (apparently full of cow decor) and Dirty Dan, who I have since learned was a rum runner and harpooner. So there. Thank you Internets, and thank you Cara for another brilliant submission!

We are going to the beach | 12.08

2009-08-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

(even if it was December.)

These are WAY back from Urban Craft Uprising, I think, last December. (If it wasn't UCU, it was some craft show at Seattle Center where everyone else was looking for Christmas presents but we ended up buying only things for ourselves. HA--that's how it rolls when you hand make your gifts.)

Anyway, these super awesome window arts can be (were? are they still there? I don't know) found at Seattle Center (for you out-of-towners that's the big public park where the well-known Space Needle lives, and the lesser-known BEST public fountain of all time lives as well and some other less great stuff, like the science center, an arcade, and the huge let down of the Experience Music Project). There's also always something random happening there. Public art, naked people playing violins under a tree, hypnotists, free foam flamingo hats. A great slice of Seattle.

We are cement statues | 7.09

2009-08-18T09:41:00.001-07:00

Over the fourth of July weekend, Joe and I took a road trip (with our very hairy yellow dog, see above) to Olympic National Park, near Lake Crescent, and parts even more northern and western (see: Neah Bay).

Somewhere along the road (101), after four days of eating from our tiny camp stove and living without a shower, we found Granny's, a sweet little cafe with an attached motel and hobby farm (chickens, miniature horses, goats) and delightful food. We hung out with the goats, chased the chickens, and fed the horses dandelion greens. AND THEN. Look what we stumbled upon.

It was down the street from that cafe that we found such wonderous cement statues with which to pose. The spider. The woman with her jaunty hat. Oh rural Washington, I ♥ you.

Be the tree | 8.09

2009-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

From the same photo shoot as the Choose your own statue, I bring you Be the Tree. Where my father demonstrates that nature makes her own statues too...and they're called trees. Why not be the trees?

Just look at my father's wistful tree-like posture. (Also, that's a pretty great tree. Very statue-like.) An A+ all around.

You have square pants | 6.09

2009-08-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

When you have time to kill before your flight out of the Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal, what do you do? Oh, you might have lunch at the Mall of America. And then, will more time to spare, you might just walk around the crazy yellow and blue paradise that is the Nickelodean Universe.

And who's the mascot of Nickelodeon Universe? Well, it's Sponge Bob. (He lives in a pineapple under the sea, BTW.) And it is this square-pants-wearing Porifera who graces the entrance to the Universe with his joyful message and enthusiastic pose (even if it is a bit back-lit).

Choose your own statue | 8.09

2009-08-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Here are my parents, modeling their own statuesque talents at the Peace Garden at Lake Harriet.

And let this be a lesson: if there's no statue you can always BE YOUR OWN.

(Those who, like me, moved away from Minneapolis more than 10 years ago will remember this garden by its original name, the Japanese Garden. This is, in fact, a place that Joe and I spent a lot of time in back when we lived in Elliot Park and had nothing even resembling trees or grass in our general vicinity. There's a rose garden, a lake to walk around, ornamental rocks, and some good soft grass to lay and read/nap in.)

Cara is a dragon in Anacortes | 8.09

2009-08-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here's Cara at the Anacortes Arts fest. She stumbled upon some super artwork by Gunter Reimnitz of Abraxas Crow Company, who agreed to let her take photos of her being a dragon if I credited his work here. And credit him I will (I have).

Also, we have to credit Cara, who's not afraid to get in an art booth and strut her dragon girl stuff.

be the skeleton | 12.05

2009-08-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sender inner Sayra writes,

So, I know I'm always trying to push the rules of the game, but this one is pretty good. It's not so much being the STATUE as the SKELETON, you see. This is me and a very pregnant Gina at the marine lab where I work, I think Dec 2005.

Just before this picture was taken, Gina's husband said to her, "honey look at the whale!" to which gina got all mad and said "oh nice - calling me a whale now." She apparently hadnt seen the skeleton of the worlds largest animal just behind her....

And then she did. And, I assume, all was well. Cuz then she was BEING the skeleton. (A wider, more pregnant version than Sayra.)

Thanks Very-Pregnant-Gina. And thanks, Sayra. For playing along AND bending the rules.

AJ is the crab | 7.09

2009-08-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Remember when CT was in NY? He gets around. After returning to Seattle from NY, CT went to San Francisco with AJ.

Always the good sport, AJ sports his crab-tastic statue capabilities in Frisco. Who's AJ? Oh, you know, our summer intern. Or Admin Assistant. Or the guy who's desperately waiting for his job to become available on the Hawaiian cruise ship, Pride of America. Or keeper of the blue beta named Lunch who lives in a bowl on our front counter. Or all of the above.

Your nation's capital | 7.09

2009-08-05T10:11:00.001-07:00

My best gal pal P (BGPP) was recently in your nation's capital (assuming that you, like me, are an American of the United States variety), to witness the graduation of her cousin-out-law from the school or training facility or whatever from where you emerge carrying an FBI badge. Pretty cool, eh?

BGPP and her Partner Pat (PP) and their daughter Jae (J) visited some arts, apparently. And posed next to that there art. It's thoughtful art, and they're thoughtful gals, so that all makes sense. (If only they had pointy ears for the shot.)

Also, as shown above, P and J are happy to demonstrate, as well, how one should cross the streets in Washington DC. Legs spread, arms swung wide. It's apparently DC LAW. Just look how seriously P is taking this activity. So seriously. J too.

It's important to take such things seriously, I guess, such as walking the correct way, or no one has to yield to you. And then you could get injured. And it would be all your fault. I'm just sayin.

CT (and snow cow) in New York | 7.09

2009-07-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

As you may have read here, CT is in New York. (If not, click on the clickity word and you can read there. about CT. in New York. OR you can keep reading here. Your choice.)

He sent these pictures, since, you know from reading the clicky link, that he likes to play along. (He's an enthusiastic guy. Yes he is.)

He says that he had to show up my father and his liberty shot, and folks, I think he did. Not only does he have the REAL statue of liberty in his photo, he also has a pretty sweet torch. Of orange juice. (Sorry Dad.) In other news, why are there so many statues of liberty?

In OTHER other news, CT apparently visited a bull. This one (see below). I'm assuming that this is some kind of stock market bull. Famous and stuff. Let's see....[cut to author wiki-ing said bull statue, finding said statue and linking to it...wait for it...----> HERE.] Wikipedia says that the bull weighs 7,000 pounds. That's a lotta bull, folks. This bull is named "Charging Bull," but is sometimes called "Wall Street Bull" or "Bowling Green Bull." I would guess he's called all kinds of other things, but wikipedia just doesn't know about them.

BUT THE BEST PART: the artist made the statue and carted him to Wall Street as an act of guerilla art. He wasn't commissioned. He didn't ask permission. He simply felt a need to give a gift to the city of New York after the 1987 stock market crash. What a guy.

Okay, so the police seized the bull and...IMPOUNDED it. (How much did that cost the tax payers?) People cried out. (There was a public outcry), and Parks and Rec reinstalled the bull. How's that for democracy? God bless America.

CT is really working the bull angle. Just look at those horns:

Also. We have a company mascot. His name is Snow Cow. (Don't ask.) He travels with employees (he has his own passport and everything--he went to Ghana with Jules). He wanted to get in on the action too:

He doesn't need to use his hands to make bull horns (which is good. Since cows--even snow cows--don't have hands). He is bovine enough.

You are James Dean | 6.09

2009-07-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

And now, from our youngest contributor yet, a pitch-perfect representation of James Dean, at none other than our own Mama's.

My (and his mother's) favorite part: how he kept sneaking a look out of the corner of his eye to make sure that he was doing it right. Thanks Zeke! You make a great James Dean!

Be the zombie/mummy @ Universal Studios | 6.09

2009-06-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

(after your nerd conference.)

(Second) Steve* is a programmer. For a certain large software company in Redmond, WA. He makes video games. Or tests them. Or codes them.

Okay. I have no idea what he does. I don't ask, because a) it sounds boring, b) I won't understand what he's talking about anyway, and c) I don't play video games. (Except for my recent fascination with Mafia Wars on fb. But I'm not proud of that, okay?)

Regardless, last week he attended a very special conference. Something about E3. No idea. I do know that in MY super boring work world e3 is a (now dead) Department of Labor initiative that stood for education, economic development, and eenovation? Something. I don't remember. Never mind.

Anyway, the E3 conference was in LA, and his girlfriend, Jules is Cools, continuously called it the "Nerd Conference." After the Nerd Conference, Steve was able to hit up Universal Studios, and that's where he found this sweet zombie.

As you know from the above post, I don't play video games. I ALSO don't actually see most movies, either. I'm more the foreign film/documentary kind of girl...so I have no basis on which to report on a trip to somewhere as mainstream as Universal Studios, nor do I know anything about zombies. So there. I'm NOT the person who should be in charge of this posting. BUT, this is my blog, so it's me or no one.

So I will pontificate on this being a zombie, and also wonder if it's NOT a zombie but instead a mummy. I know from my old Scoobie Doo days that mummies are the guys with the bandages. This guy (with 2nd Steve) appears to have bandages. Can zombies have bandages? I should wiki that...but I just don't care enough.

For now it's enough to note that 2nd Steve is a) playing along, b) doing a great job of it. Thank you Steve.

*Sorry, Steve, but my father-in-law is also a Steve. And he gets First Steve status. So, you're Second Steve. But it's cool, because there's alliteration.

More LOVING of the statue

2009-06-08T11:09:00.001-07:00

(loving)

(and also, simply hanging out with the statue) from ever-fervent (but rule-bending) Sayra. This one, like this one, is from South Africa.

That's some big ape, if I do say so myself. (And I do.) Wonder if it's an ape. Don't know much about those hairy primates. Maybe there's some kind of ape-biologist who reads this site and will pencil in some explanatory information re: hairy apes/gorillas/monkeys. But, seeing as how most of the readers are my friends...and most of my friends were history and english majors...probably not.

Orange County, CA | 4.09

2009-05-26T12:09:00.001-07:00

Four shots from my awesome in-laws.

I should note that Julie submitted these photos with the caveat that she and Steve are still amateurs. But, dear reader, it's not true--and furthermore, it must run in the family. These two are PROS.

Yes, love this. From Laguna beach, at Eiler's Inn. (He's even got the knee-bend! Pros, I tell you!)

Julie showing off her form (and grace!) at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena.

Steve as Neptune. Newport Coast. Fierce. Intent. Dare I say...god-like. (Roman god-like, that is.)

This is my very favorite. Just look at the symmetry with their arms. Plus the sweet smiles. Julie even has the curls! Yum. Taken in Newport Beach.

Capetown, South Africa (a few years ago)

2009-05-18T15:25:00.001-07:00

This from sender-inner Meredith, a long lost friend rediscovered thanks to the magic of facebook. Mere is a big traveler, me thinks, and she swears she has loads of photos where she's either a) being the statue or b) pretending that the statue is her new best friend. I say both work here, at YATS. We like it all.

So, let's hope that this submission is just one in a series. Mere mentions that this photo was taken at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Capetown, South Africa.

What we also like is that, as it turns out, many of the people I have known as friends in my lifetime are also statue mimic-ers. This tells you something, either a) about me or b) about the quality of friendships into which I enter. Because, I tell you, only quality people mimic statuary. It's true. You read it here: on the internets.

Cruisin to SEA | 5.09

2009-05-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

And now for a bit of cross-posting bliss.

Jules is Cools went on a one day cruise. But more about that later.

FIRST: You know what's great about Jules? Lots of things (including--but not limited to--sassy hair, witty banter, self-depreciating humor, and laughing at my jokes) AND she plays along. With abandon. Not just here, at YATS, but at TIMWAS too.

So Jules went on a cruise, and on the cruise there was (in addition to the TIMWAS mentioned food, pool, and signage)...wait for it...statues. And posing.

The beauty of cruise ship decor? Irony, for one. Oh, and ridiculousness, for two. Over-the-top-hood as well. And statues. Definitely statues. Here Jules demonstrates the grecian-inspired head-saucer pillar.

Just look at Kate Dogg. She is new to this, but you'd never know it. She is a shining star of statuehood. She has even bunched up her skirt appropriately. SUCH dedication. She is also trying hard not to laugh. Which I like. I encourage both laughter AND the stifling of such laughter in the name of statue mimicry.

Jules is holding her hand out in this one, because she IS the statue. She's not, as some have suggested, trying to cop a feel. Just look at the emotion on her face. It's precious. So dare I say...statue-like. Some might even call it statuesque.

But this one...oh this one. It is my favorite of all so far. Just look at that bench. SO pretty. SO elegant. What, with the GOLD cushion, and the two mournful Sheppard boys enrobed in turquoise and pepto pink--the true colors of french royalty. Not to mention the gold-tusked goat-style feet...it's just such a beautiful piece of furniture. Perfect for any modern home. And, Jules and Chauncey are definitely rockin' it. Fierce like.

name that statue | 8.08

2009-05-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Paging through some photos today and found this one! My father, Jim, and the statue of liberty, or a facsimile thereof, somewheres.

Much like Santa's helpers who ring the bells outside of department stores during the holiday season, there are a lot of Liberty helpers around these here United States (see tulip town, below). We have one in Seattle, on alki beach, but I'm not sure that this photo was taken there. Peanut gallery? Thoughts? Location? Timeframe?

Santa Fe, NM | 4.09

2009-05-06T08:44:00.001-07:00

This just in from Second Sam--two stellar statue submissions straight from Santa Fe.

Not sure what this one is supposed to be, but Second Sam reports that it was outside of a church. (Jesus? Naw, too old.) Maybe it's John the Baptist. Maybe it's just some old tree stump half-armed guy. You see them around a lot in the desert, I would think.

But this one really is fantastic. Not only is Second Sam being the donkey statue, but she is even lugging a pack as if she herself were a pack mule (yes. I have no idea off the top of my head what the difference between a donkey and a pack mule are. I'm from the suburbs, what can I say.).

But back to Second Sam and her pack. See that folks? that's some good You Are The Statue (YATS) action.

tulip town statues | 4.09

2009-04-27T17:06:00.001-07:00

tulip time. tulip time. in skagit valley, that is.

good thing about tulip time? the tulips.

also. the statues at tulip town. (note the windmill. windmills are MANDATORY in order to enjoy an authentic tulip experience. evidently they remind us of holland, where the original tulips were created. or something.)

bad thing about tulip town? the seven million people who show up at the same time as you. and then try to leave at the same time = traffic from the depths of hell

Not quite.

2009-04-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sarah told this guy to be the statue. But he just didn't get it. He does, however, get to be on this here blog, because, wow. Just look at the expression on his face. It makes me laugh outloud each time I look at it.

be the road signs |

2009-04-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

especially if they're painted on the road

drinking coffee

2009-04-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

this statue moves. which requires movement on the part of the player.

be jimi

2009-04-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

and yes. we did send this as our christmas card photo.

Greece

2009-04-21T12:08:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Second Sam and Stephen, who share two photos from Corfu, Greece. Sam writes that Stephen is being Shakespeare (although, dear reader, Stephen looks happier than William does, but I imagine that's because this shot was taken with a digital camera--snap--and he didn't (unlike William) have to stand and hold his face still for three weeks while someone sculpted him. Also, for next time, Stephen might think about growing a beard.)

Second Sam is being a sad statue. She don't know who the sad statue is, but he is sad and so she is sad. But, she explains, not really, because she is being a statue, and being a statue is fun. So there.

Sonoma (before the digital invasion)

2009-04-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Cara, of Floralee, for sending in these awesome scanned shots of her being the statue in wine country. She apologizes for the crappy quality of the photos, since they were taken with (gasp!) film. I think they're just all awesome and ol-timey like, especially with that black and white film!

orange county | 4.06

2009-04-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

it's a really long story.

be the pumpkin | oct 08

2009-04-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

not statues. but something to be, nonetheless.

orange county | 4.08

2009-04-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

no words can express how i feel about this photo. nor the man (men) in it.

you are the soda rabbit | 3.09

2009-04-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

is a bunny made of cases of pepsi and orange crush a statue? we say yes.

also. sorry for the crappy photo. it was taken with an iphone. all spur o' the moment like.

Florida 2008

2009-04-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

Paula sends in this one. Who knew, we were all sort of playing along already. I think her facial expressions really showcase the emotional intensity brought by the sculptor.

loving the statue

2009-04-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

okay, so this is not actually BEING the statue, but LOVING the statue*. Which isn't quite right, but still awesome. Thanks for the submission, Sayra.

*Statue is a dugong, courtesy of the San Diego Natural History Museum. So. That's an HISTORICAL dugong.

PDX | 12.08

2009-04-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

seattle waterfront office building | circa 2007

2009-04-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

NOLA statues | 7.08

2009-04-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Phoenix: Carefree | 11.08

2009-04-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

NOLA sculpture park | 3.09

2009-04-12T14:15:00.000-07:00