I got him in a market in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2006. I think he is the coolest thing ever. I mean, seriously. How many people have an antique marionette puppet from Thailand in their house? Well, my brother does, but only because I gave him Bob's cousin. But how many other people have one?
Bob has made the rounds around the house. He was in the living room on a chair for awhile, but he gave the husband the willies, so I moved him into the guestroom. But then he gave my guests the heebie-jeebies, so I had to find a new home for him.
Currently, he's between our kitchen and living room, sitting on a wood shelf the husband built to hold some of our art. It's a somewhat temporary spot for him to keep him safe until I find the ultimate location for him in the house, but in a way I think it's a proper place for him. He is a work of art. The husband begs to differ.
Not long ago we had a friend over for dinner. She and the husband were discussing Bob and decided he was ultra creepy and reminded them of the nasty flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz. It's been forever since I've seen the movie, and I honestly didn't remember the flying monkeys. I told them that they were crazy and they just lacked good taste.
For some reason last night, this whole idea of the flying monkeys popped into my head, so I googled them. And, by golly, Bob really does look like the flying monkeys!!
So, what should I do about Bob? Do I leave him out on display and give a high five to all the guests cool enough to appreciate him? Or do I stuff him in a corner somewhere so he won't scare small children?
Chiang Mai? Thai food is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteOK, so Bob does look like one of the flying monkeys...and a mix a Jabba-the-Hut & maybe Yoda.
And, he does look like he is about to fly off the shelf at the viewer. Fun, but scary.
I wonder how he would look sagely/safely contained in a glass display case - like the Japanese-doll glass display cases that are framed in black-lacquered wood? Maybe the guy could have a brass ID plate on front - name, birth place, circa year? Then location... Museum classy on a pedestal? Wizzened on a bookcase? Or?
Hmmmm. What a fun guy!
Ha! Yes, a vision of flying monkeys went through my head at first glance too. He is kinda cool though, but what will Goober think? WWGT? Yea, pretty soon every single one of your decisions will be based on Goober. :-) When my guys were little they were freaked out by an oil painting their great-grandfather did for them of a clown. Literally had to closet it except when he visited. So rather than terrorize the baby you might keep Bob safe in a box until the Goob is old enough to think Bob is really cool - which will happen!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I love a good and funky art piece as well as the next guy...but...he is a bit flying monkey esque. And I do appreciate the goober comment above (my kids would've been creeped by a clown pic too!) I had a malasian kite flying in our foyer (big turquoise bird with yellow talons) I didn't have the heart to give it away when I painted the foyer so I put it on a hook in my daughters ceiling....at first she was creeped out and wanted it down...now she actually likes it.
ReplyDeleteGoobers room? ;)
Thanks for the opinions! I can see the writing on the wall, and I have a feeling that Bob (and lots of other pieces of my "art") will be banished to my printing studio in the same way that I've told the husband that lots of his "art" has to stay out in his workshop.
ReplyDeleteThen one day, when Goober is old enough to realize just how cool his/her mom is to have this, I'll bring him back into the house and display him in a suitable fashion. I do like the idea of making him look like something in a museum! :)