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| The birds we hear. 'Florida Man' rams car into elaborate roadside sculpture of rabbit (Page 1/1) |
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rinselberg
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MAY 26, 02:55 PM
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"Florida Man is an Internet meme first popularized in 2013, referring to an alleged prevalence of men performing irrational, maniacal, illogical, delusional, insane, and absurd actions in the U.S. state of Florida." (Wikipedia.)
The arrestingly (pun intended) cobalt blue-hued sculpture stands 14-foot tall and is made from 30,000 glass tiles.
| quote | | The damaged artwork, titled “Thunderbunny” (2021), features 30,000 glass tiles atop a metal base and is the work of Hunt Slonem, a multidisciplinary artist known for his brightly-colored depictions of rabbits, butterflies, and tropical birds that have taken shape in the form of paintings and large-scale sculptures. |
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"The birds that we hear."
| quote | After being detained, [Derek Alan] Modrok admitted to other public damage, including tampering with the Justin Flippen Park sign on May 16 and toppling over a popsicle artwork at Rachel Richardson Park on May 18.
Initially, local residents expressed concerns that the motives behind the vandalistic acts were fueled by an anti-LGBTQ+ bias, as per reported by the New Pelican. But when officers asked Modrok his motivation behind the offenses, he explained that he was driven by his dislike for Wilton Manors’s late mayor, Justin Flippen. Flippen died unexpectedly in 2020 during his term when he suffered a brain aneurysm, according to a tribute page memorializing his legacy.
Modrok told officers that Flippen, who the park is named after, was the reason for “the birds that we hear.” |
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The reference to an "anti-LGBTQ+ bias" could be connected with ideas about the artist who created the Thunderbunny sculpture, Hunt Slonem.
Justin Flippen Park, where the crime was perpetrated, is in Wilton Manors, Florida.
These news reports include photographs of the Thunderbunny sculpture, and of the damage it suffered. The sculpture remains largely intact, although there is now some apprehension about moving it. It's been traveled among various locations where it's been displayed as public art, and Justin Flippen Park was not going to be its permanent home.
"Florida Man Crashes Car Into 14-Foot Bunny Sculpture"
Maya Pontone for Hyperallergic; May 26, 2023.
https://hyperallergic.com/8...oot-bunny-sculpture/
"Not a hate crime: Police say art vandal not motivated by anti-LBGTQ bias"
Michael d’Oliveira for New Pelican; May 24, 2023.
https://www.newpelican.com/...-by-anti-lbgtq-bias/[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 05-26-2023).]
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rinselberg
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MAY 26, 10:22 PM
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Warning: Do not enlarge this image by selecting the thumbnail if you might be disturbed at the sight of a sculpture that consists of 30,000 cobalt blue-colored glass tiles, stands 14 feet high, and resembles a surrealistically transformed bunny rabbit.[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 05-26-2023).]
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williegoat
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MAY 27, 09:44 AM
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