kim barry studio: American Values Part II

Here are some highlights of the "American Values Part II" Installation that opened at West Eleven, Saturday Oct 1, 2011. This public interactive piece establishes the story of "Fat Man" with the help of a ,Pete the Pod, character. His words are written on the tablet below with Pete in the grass as he greets curious visitors. After each visitor reads the story of Fat Man, they are asked to share their "fat man" in their own lives, how they deal, and advice for Pete to help his fellow pods.

As written on the tablet, above. . .

"Pete the Pod, here.

And behind me, meet Fat Man. Kinda looks like Mr. Clean meets Stay Puff. Hey, I may be a pod but I watch t.v.. We're not cavemen.

Myth has it he used to be a pod, just like you and me....well, me. Growing up, he used to crack shell with the best of them. But something in him lacked the ability to feel satisfied in his own shell. At first, it was too small. Then he learned about how to play keep away on the playground and then he shorten the game to just "keep. " It made for a quick game. And he grew. At first, his tree was so proud of their pod from the branch getting big time. He really transformed into something more than any one of us could have ever imagined for ourselves. And he got all the chicks. Money, food, and luxuries were his for the taking it seemed. More and more and more and more. A few tree sheddings ago, he claimed himself The King of Pods as his inherent duty to serve us as he is so accomplished in his own endeavors. We, from the block, rallied our hometree pod, and most pods outside our local tree tuned in to his t.v. (tree vessel )commercials and saw the savior they all thought they needed. He had gone from small time pod to the great Fat Man!!

Once he was officially acknowledged as such, he found that some reappropriations were in order for the betterment of all pods. In order to do his job at 100% mental capability, 80% of our food goes to fuel his brain power to maximize his ideas for our best interest for ourselves. Very logical. 90% of our income from tree sap goes to his account well cause he obviously has the best brain power to do the best with it, right? What were we going to do with it anyway? Buy new shells? Crazytalk. And of course, 90% of our land is his since he IS 900% bigger than us. And he gets all the chicks, ..... at least, first. It's his way of giving his blessing and sharing his greatness with us all.

Now he needs to protect everything he has collected. He was the hero in created jobs in the tree sap industry. Only later did we realize he was the only who could afford to use it. And use it he did with planes, tanks, personal jets, and a personal army-- to protect us, ofcourse. But now things are getting out of control. Seems some of the pods have been starting to ask questions. And if you get too close, it could go pretty bad for a pod with a petition. He says he doesn't mean to squish anyone, he just doesn't see them while he is hard at work. So, we need some advice on what to do to balance things out .

Do you have a Fat Man? Tell me about it by writing it in the book. And tell me what you would do if you were me. "

-Pete.