The copper cowboy is one of the many living statue performers that can be seen around NYC. Actually, living statues are now a worldwide phenomenon with annual competitions in Arnhem (Netherlands), Laguna Beach, CA and Portugal. I have generally seen this as an exercise in stamina and masochism (with all that body paint and hot summer days) but not particularly creative or interesting - most performers get attention primarily from the novelty factor to the uninitiated. However, after looking at various sites online, there are some ambitious attempts. Like many of the living statues, the copper cowboy concept has been done by more than one individual - online searches for copper cowboy leads most often to Jon Mitchell of Hawaii. I imagine the concept was inspired by the copper/cowboy connection of the old west. There was a lot of memorabilia created using copper - cowboy hats, boots etc. Most of the living statue performers remain motionless for hours at a time with a container placed in front for donations. Some become animated from time to time, with mime routines. The copper cowboy in the photo made occasional sounds using a concealed mouth whistle accompanied by various short body movements ...
Saturday, April 07, 2007
The Copper Cowboy
The copper cowboy is one of the many living statue performers that can be seen around NYC. Actually, living statues are now a worldwide phenomenon with annual competitions in Arnhem (Netherlands), Laguna Beach, CA and Portugal. I have generally seen this as an exercise in stamina and masochism (with all that body paint and hot summer days) but not particularly creative or interesting - most performers get attention primarily from the novelty factor to the uninitiated. However, after looking at various sites online, there are some ambitious attempts. Like many of the living statues, the copper cowboy concept has been done by more than one individual - online searches for copper cowboy leads most often to Jon Mitchell of Hawaii. I imagine the concept was inspired by the copper/cowboy connection of the old west. There was a lot of memorabilia created using copper - cowboy hats, boots etc. Most of the living statue performers remain motionless for hours at a time with a container placed in front for donations. Some become animated from time to time, with mime routines. The copper cowboy in the photo made occasional sounds using a concealed mouth whistle accompanied by various short body movements ...
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7 comments:
I guess I will have to take a look at these on Google. I never saw them except the other day I saw one on the DP.
These always seem so strange to me when you run into them around town, so still in the middle of all the hustle and bustle...
I've never been a resident of NYC, but for leisure and professional reasons I used to fly there very often. Unfortunately, I've not been in NYC since 2004, and I miss it a lot! Fortunately, there are some beautiful NYC blogs to kill the «saudade»...
Trotter
Those street performers can remain motionless but NYC never does! I just read that the Astor Place Barnes & Noble is closing after 13 years. I hope you can add that location to your other pics of the area before it's gone. Gwathmey goes up and Astor Wines moves---the neighborhood is definitely changing.
I did not know that B&N at Astor was moving. Not too surprising - that space was always really bad - it sprawled across a couple of buildings. Very disorienting. It would be interesting to know the reason.
Brian
I saw this guy at Columbus Circle before, and I saw him again at South Street Seaport last week for the street performers' auditions. He was pretty good. I took his picture too! :-) I hope he pased the audition; the Statue of Liberty performers who tried out were absolutely atrocious! :-O
Copper Cowboy lives in my building he is a great guy. He is also doing an acoustic guitar set October 2, 2010 at Tommy's Tavern in Greenpoint Brooklyn. Come see him he is a great song writer.
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