It's U day at the A to Z Challenge!
Time for my annual nod to April Showers
and the Big Umbrella!
The Big Umbrella was a two year project by Aleksandra Mir.
From 2003 to 2004, she traveled to London, Paris, NYC, Martinique,
Dresden, Copenhagen with the umbrella and documented social reaction.
The umbrella, which was twice the size of the largest men's umbrella on the market, could
shield 16 people from the rain. But her question was, would 16 strangers really crowd
together under it's protection?
She says, "Traveling the world with a familiar object of uncanny proportions can have some unexpected effects. While The Big Umbrella proved useful as a tool for plucking down stray balls from trees, its unwieldy size on busy streets turned altruistic motives into harassment. Providing a shelter, it brought some strangers momentarily together, while alienating others, and in its most salient moments, simply amplified the solitude of the bearer."
So, how about you? If it was pouring rain and someone was nearby with a gigantic umbrella and offered you some shelter, would you take it? I think I would, unless the owner of the umbrella looked like a real creep. lol. In fact, I've offered to share my umbrella with a stranger before, but I'm just friendly like that. haha. Anyway, I want one of these huge umbrellas! Although, if the wind was really strong, I think it might carry me away like Mary Poppins! :)
If you'd like to read more about the Big Umbrella project click HERE.
I'm all linked up with the A to Z Challenge!
Click on the link on my sidebar to learn more!
♥
First two days in a row
ReplyDeleteWhat do you know
Did that work conference teach you how to be on top?
DeleteCream of the crop?
Hippity hop?
Was not for me
DeleteI just sat there pretty much all day with no glee
I figured as much.
DeleteThey should have had you teach and such! :)
Much more interesting it would be
as entertaining things came from thee.
hahaha.
Pat...you show off,
DeleteI just have to scoff.
I would not go up on any tall buildings with that
ReplyDeleteYou'd get blown off and kersplat
Would I go under one?
Depends on who it was for that to be done
But as long as it isn't cold out
Rain wouldn't make me pout
Nah, the wind would carry you away
Deleteand you could do a Mary Poppins at your bay..
hahaha.
Yes, it would certainly depend on the owner!
if they were scary, I'd let them be a loner.
lol....
Wow! Than is one giant umbrella! Like you, I would share an umbrella with a stranger...
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should start looking for an umbrella like that. It would come in handy at a rainy auction! haha.
Deletethats one honking big umbrella, when we first moved into town from the country I offered to share my umbrella during a heavy rain down pour and it was a woman a bit unbalanced and she stalked me for weeks, very creepy, not good, I like the rain,
ReplyDeleteoh dear! That is some story! Yikes!
DeleteI love this idea, that umbrella is huge as well! For some reason I now can't get that Rihanna Umbrella song out of my head, the only issue I have with this post haha!
ReplyDelete♫♫♫♫♫
Deletelol....
ha. how cool is that eh? trying to think of other things of unusual proportion that i could carry around just to see peoples reactions...cool story bets...
ReplyDeletelet's see...a purse...a hat. You take the hat and I'll take the purse. lol....
DeleteI have to say I love that big umbrella! sandie
ReplyDeleteI do, too! It's amazing!
DeleteVERY interesting. People are such interesting creatures. Thank you for sharing this, Betsy! blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteyes, they certainly are....I love the psychology aspect.
DeleteWhat an interesting post and project! I would definitely share someone's umbrella in case of emergency...
ReplyDeletewell, thanks! We're almost to the end, aren't we! yay! ha.
DeleteOh boy....those pictures of the boys on the sidebar are great!
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the study about the BIG umbrella.
I'd take shelter.
Thanks! That's called "low budget, boys hate photographers and photo shoots senior pictures". lol....
DeleteOh, the things I had to do behind the camera and the silly songs I sang to capture those smiles. hahaha...but it was worth it!
The older I get the more likely I am to accept invites that I would have declined in younger days.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by the giant umbrella. Where can I get one? ;)
I bet if you click on the link, you could find out!
DeleteI love umbrellas Betsy and this look amazing but I prefer little and I can put inside my purse or bags depend and I love walk in the rain
ReplyDeleteanyway this post remember me Rihanna cause I love her song:)
I have a little one in my purse, too! It has come in handy on many occasions! ha.
DeleteI love the boys pictures in the sidebar look great!!
ReplyDeletethank you :) I was way overdue putting up some current pictures!
DeleteI know:)
DeleteYou could almost use it for a tent! I think the story is so interesting. Wouldn't that be a fun project to do, especially the traveling!
ReplyDeleteI thought so, too! What a fun adventure and experiment...not to mention you get to carry the coolest umbrella around! ha.
DeleteThat is cool...but, I think I have seen it somewhere...hmmmm...can't remember..
ReplyDeleteI would definitely take shelter...I hate rain on my hair!!!!
I get the "furry" look!! hahaha!
The Men look great!!!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
well, it is my annual post...maybe you remember it from last year! ha.
Deletemy hair does the same thing...flat and fuzzy. lol...
Maybe...have I been reading you for a year???
DeleteWOW...how time flies when you are having fun, eh??
hahaha....
Ha, love the Umbrella Project. What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteLooks fun, doesn't it? And to get the proper perspective, you have to look at the yellow umbrella in the last photo! Too funny!
DeleteWooooohhhhh! Huge umbrella! I wonder if it's heavy.
ReplyDeleteI bet it is!
DeleteI totally loved the Big Umbrella project!! And if I'd have come across it and the artist I'd so shelter asap!! LOL!! People's reactions are always surprising - never dull when faced with something as creatively unexpected! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Such a fun project! I wonder how she thought of it!
DeleteLOVE! Such COOL observation!
ReplyDeletewould be fun, wouldn't it?
DeleteExcellent photos and excellent humour.
ReplyDeletethanks, andy! I appreciate your visit!
DeleteI too think that is a cool project and before reading about the stalker I would gladly have taken or offered shelter with an umbrella. I have tried to think of another item to do something similiar but honestly could not. It kinda reminds me of the show "Candid Camera". I do not think there was any other show that we spent so much time laughing at. The whole family would sit, watch it, and laugh and laugh. I hadn't thought about that show in a while. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I think about that show often! So many goofy things happen to me that I swear I feel like the guy is about to jump out and say "You're on Candid Camera" hahaha. That show was the best!
DeleteThat's an interesting story! I tend to think of myself as a loner, but I don't like the rain either, so if I were caught out without an umbrella of my own I might try squeezing under the big umbrella. I hope it didn't break in a big gust of wind though - or carry anybody off the ground! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm from the future! To be precise Mid February 2014
A Betsy from the future thinks Vince and I should have an umbrella like this because it is raining so darned hard.
I think it is a great idea but I am rather concerned about the strong winds we are having and this brollie, as us Brits call them, would take off, carrying poor Vince and I high into the air to make a Mary Poppins flight look extremely tame by comparison. We woiuld require a few more people to weigh it down.
Love the concept and I have never seen an umbrella even half this size,.
Don't forget your carpet bag as you fly away! hahaha....
Delete