Amusing the Zillion

Art of the Day: Out of Disorder (Coney Island) by Takahiro Iwasaki

August 21, 2012 by Tricia

Out of Disorder (ConeyIsland) 2012 by Takahiro Iwasaki. Courtesy of C24Gallery

The 180-metric ton Wonder Wheel inspired this ethereal ten-inch tall sculpture by Hiroshima-based artist Takahiro Iwasaki. Along with neighboring Coney Island landmarks the Parachute Jump and Cyclone, the piece is on view at C24 Gallery in Chelsea through August 24. Titled “Out of Disorder (Coney Island) 2012,” the miniature models are made of fibers pulled from the beach towels on which they are perched!

“Takahiro Iwasaki builds exquisite, intricate, almost impossibly tiny structures, associated with industrial society and faith traditions on micro landscapes (of towels and other domestic fabrics) that seem one breath away from destruction,” according to the gallery’s release for the group show “Becoming: Worlds in Flux.” Curator Melissa Keys and all of the artists were 2012 residents at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in Brooklyn.

“Becoming: Worlds in Flux” through August 24, 2012 at C24 Gallery, 514 West 24th Street, New York, NY, 646-416-6300

BK Festival Vendors Back in Business, Coney Zipline Isn’t

August 19, 2012 by Tricia

BK Festival Vendors and Zipline, Stillwell Avenue West, Coney Island. August 18, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

On Saturday, the BK Festival vendors were happy to be back in business selling sunglasses, hats, dresses and what have you after a two-week hiatus caused by the construction of the Coney Island Zipline. The Stillwell Avenue lot where their tents are pitched was no longer a construction site because the zipline is built, though it did not open for the weekend.

Why not? A zipline crew member told ATZ one of the required permits had not been applied for and blamed the festival management. One of the vendors said the zipline would never open because Mayor Bloomberg had his own and didn’t want any competition! Was he referring to the free zipline at the City’s Summer Streets, which ended on August 18th? Does that mean another vendor’s prediction that Coney’s zipline would open next weekend is true? We probably should have asked Ana, the BK Festival’s resident psychic.

If you’re rarin’ to go ziplining in Coney Island, watch magicalthemepark’s video below of the ride being tested several days ago and wish you were there.

UPDATE September 12, 2012

Wow, will the long delayed Coney Island Zipline open this weekend?!?! Right now people are zipping across in test runs #BetterLateThanNever
— Amusing the Zillion (@AmusingZillion) September 12, 2012

Dance Video: Coney Island Dancers Street Festival

August 19, 2012 by Tricia

The Coney Island Dancers, whose Boardwalk dance parties are legendary, had their annual street festival on Saturday. If you missed it, take a look at this video from Jim McDonnell of a solo dancer on West 10th Street. Every year, Jim makes a video titled Coney Island Dancing, so we have a feeling there’s more to come.

The second video by jrmojicannyc1 features a stellar troupe of guest performers’ tribute to Michael Jackson. The Coney Island Dancers outdoor house music dance parties continue through September.