The Naked Man in the Room

I really don’t understand most art. If I look at something and I think it’s pretty, then I like it. If I look at something and I think it’s ugly, then I don’t. Honestly, I think all Monet paintings look like they got rained on. And don’t even get me started on sculptures made from trash.

A few months ago, Chantal offered me a free ticket to One Yellow Rabbit’s anniversary at the Jubilee. I figured, hey, why not?

Five minutes after the show started, I was watching a naked man wearing only a pair of red rubber gloves dunk his head into a bucket of water and then yell I AM THE WHALER!!

My eyes darted right and left as I tried to figure this out by surveying the reactions of the people around me: was this supposed to be serious? funny? avant garde?

Everyone started joining in, yelling with him I AM THE WHALER.

I really wasn’t sure what to do. I kind of wished I brought my knitting.

Last night, I was pinch hitting for Chantal’s band as a back up singer at an artsy person’s birthday and suddenly, there he was! NAKED WHALER Guy. I’m sure he has a name. in fact, I’m pretty sure he’s well respected and revered in the art community, as he is one of the founding members of One Yellow Rabbit. but to me, he will always be Naked Whaler Guy.

Somehow I doubt that was the impression he was going for.