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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: andrew in philadelphia on May 30, 2008, 07:25:48 PM

Title: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: andrew in philadelphia on May 30, 2008, 07:25:48 PM
a question and a comment for any chicago area FOTs out there: what's the deal with the harry caray statue at wrigley? it's hands down the most frightening and ill-conceived example of public art i've ever seen. holy cow indeed. just look at this thing:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Harry_Carey.jpg)

i don't know if tom's ever discussed this in the show or not (only been listening 6 months or so) - but this definitely a subject that requires further examination.

the artist has depicted him as some kind of superhuman monster (bent on committing assault, i assume) bursting forth from the foundation of wrigley (while destroying it) and enveloped in what i can only describe as a tornado of souls and/or demons (though i'm assuming they're supposed to be cubs fans.)

what in god's name is this thing? how? why? can i get a life sized replica for my living room to hang coats on?

i stood in front of it transfixed - literally unable to move as it cast its weird power over me. it was mesmerizing, and makes the rocky statue look like a heaping, steaming pile of "rocky V" DVDs.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: senorcorazon on May 30, 2008, 08:10:47 PM
They should have just put this up:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/51999805_b811fe653d.jpg)

My brother and I got picked up by our cousin to go to a Cubs game, and our cousin proceeded to take his shirt off and get two beers for himself as soon as we got there (after drinking a few while he was driving us there). I'm not sure if Harry was drunker by the 7th inning stretch, but I bet he was.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: dania on May 30, 2008, 09:55:55 PM

the artist has depicted him as some kind of superhuman monster (bent on committing assault, i assume) bursting forth from the foundation of wrigley (while destroying it) and enveloped in what i can only describe as a tornado of souls and/or demons (though i'm assuming they're supposed to be cubs fans.)

i stood in front of it transfixed - literally unable to move as it cast its weird power over me. 


You should really consider not staring at the statue high on pot. 

Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: andrew in philadelphia on May 30, 2008, 10:11:41 PM
You should really consider not staring at the statue high on pot. 

whoa there, narc! i was dead sober. just look at that thing though, it's insane.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: joanna on May 30, 2008, 10:19:39 PM
i so rarely hear "whoa there, narc!" in my day to day life.

that thing is truly terrifying. i would love to hear the story behind how it was made. surely the story has to be online somewhere?
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: andrew in philadelphia on May 30, 2008, 10:33:41 PM
i so rarely hear "whoa there, narc!" in my day to day life.

that thing is truly terrifying. i would love to hear the story behind how it was made. surely the story has to be online somewhere?

forged in hell by lucifer himself, i believe.

Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: joanna on May 30, 2008, 10:45:54 PM
ha:

http://www.joesportsfan.com/column.php?postid=656
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: andrew in philadelphia on May 30, 2008, 10:53:26 PM
"Shown here is the commemorative statue of Caray at the southeast corner outside Wrigley. On home game days, it's mobbed by shutterbug tourists. It depicts a terrified Caray attempting to escape a mob of ghost children swirling around him and sucking him into the hell of Wrigley Field. I don't know where the ghosts come from; they are perhaps children abandoned at Wrigley, or the lost childhoods of kids raised by the players. Or they represent the wrathful lost innocence of people foolish enough to believe in the Cubs during Caray's announcing days. Or they're just hallucinations brought on by all of Caray's drinking. All I know is the statue is way creepy."

there's a little more here - plus a funny budweiser commercial from the 80s featuring rap music and a humorous take on his apparent alcoholism:

http://chicago-bob.blogspot.com/2007/03/countdown-to-baseball-harry-caray.html
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Man Machine on May 31, 2008, 12:31:47 AM
the artist has depicted him as some kind of superhuman monster (bent on committing assault, i assume) bursting forth from the foundation of wrigley (while destroying it) and enveloped in what i can only describe as a tornado of souls and/or demons (though i'm assuming they're supposed to be cubs fans.)

I had the same reaction when I saw this. It is frightening and hilarious all at once.

On a related note is the monument to Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray's predecessor as Cubs announcer.

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/77/170089695_82cf3a2dc2.jpg?v=1152144536)

Look closely at the bottom of the statue and you can see, quoted in metal, Brickhouse's signature "Hey-Hey." It's gets me every time.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Dorvid Barnas on May 31, 2008, 12:34:25 AM
It looks like he's getting kicked in the balls from behind.

That's all I got. Thank you good night.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Chris L on May 31, 2008, 01:11:31 AM
He kinda looks like the Mole Man from Fantastic Four.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Oogie on May 31, 2008, 01:13:55 AM
It's better than the Jimmy the Greek / Cesar Chavez mixup debacle.

(http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/cesarchavez/images/statueImg.jpg)

Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: andrew in philadelphia on May 31, 2008, 02:14:43 AM
i found these creepworthy honorable mentions:

Jack Lord
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/351269557_c01e10e760.jpg?v=0)

Former Philadelphia Mayor and all around frightening character Frank L. Rizzo
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1274/838444329_4c69d82706.jpg?v=0)

Phil Lynott (I'm pretty fond of this one actually)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/198/472802357_424690f17e.jpg)

FDR
(http://z.about.com/d/history1900s/1/0/L/J/fdrmem2.JPG)

Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Chris L on May 31, 2008, 02:17:58 AM
(http://bp1.blogger.com/_yxzBaPkfHdI/R4a0H3nC-kI/AAAAAAAAAtY/lPx8mqjyb1Q/s200/franz_originalframe.jpg)(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1274/838444329_4c69d82706.jpg?v=0)
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: mokin on May 31, 2008, 03:14:34 AM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Harry_Carey.jpg)

Are you sure that's a Harry Caray statue?

Harry Caray
(http://www.harrycarays.com/images/about_harry_pic1.jpg)

Larry "Bud" Melman
(http://www.unclebarky.com/abovethefold_files/page0_blog_entry267_2.jpg)


Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's
(http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/3396/yunioshi4qt.jpg)

You be the judge.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Regular Joe on May 31, 2008, 03:33:18 AM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Harry_Carey.jpg)

I wish this was animatronic SO BAD.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: jbissell on May 31, 2008, 03:41:58 AM
I attend lots of Cubs games every year and I have to say I had totally forgotten about this statue.  I'm going to have to reinspect it on Sunday.  There's a new Ernie Banks statue by the front entrance but that's pretty much super boring.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: jbissell on May 31, 2008, 03:46:11 AM
The design is somewhat similar to the Jordan statue in front of the United Center, although that one makes a little more sense.

(http://www.portraitschicago.com/images/mj.jpg)
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: chrisfoll577 on May 31, 2008, 06:25:11 AM
There's a new Ernie Banks statue by the front entrance but that's pretty much super boring.

It is super boring but still super stupid:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2384761821_90099eeba0.jpg) (http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/resources/2008/04/oopscubs.jpg)

Apparently The Cubs aren't ones for winning World Series or using apostrophes.

My girlfriend's family are Cubs fans and I've been to Wrigley a few times. I think the structure itself is quite lovely, but besides their ability to consume large amounts of beer the crowd there was pretty soft-serve by my elitist east coast standards.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: dania on June 01, 2008, 06:46:04 PM
"come hither"
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/660842426_18b6497c49.jpg?v=0)

Shakespeare statue in Lincoln Park
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: joanna on June 01, 2008, 07:44:45 PM
"come hithereth"
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Chris L on June 01, 2008, 08:25:43 PM
He wants to make the statue with two backs.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on June 02, 2008, 11:49:07 AM
(http://www.doney.net/aroundaz/celebrity/DA_pope_statue.jpg)

downtown, i found this statue of the pope? (image googled)  and then around the pope are NAKED, anatomically correct dancers (apparently ungoogleable). 

bizarrre.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Itslikeimsayin on June 02, 2008, 04:00:01 PM
I'd never seen that Harry Caray statue. Crazy. Someone please find the artist's explanation.

Here's a buff, shirtless George Washington statue I saw at the Museum of American History in D.C. a few years ago:
http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-j50288-s2-p179659-George_Washington_Statue.html
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on June 02, 2008, 04:58:44 PM
I'd never seen that Harry Caray statue. Crazy. Someone please find the artist's explanation.

Here's a buff, shirtless George Washington statue I saw at the Museum of American History in D.C. a few years ago:
http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-j50288-s2-p179659-George_Washington_Statue.html

i saw this and instantly started laughing.  its circling my work right now. 
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: jed on June 02, 2008, 05:55:09 PM
I'd never seen that Harry Caray statue. Crazy. Someone please find the artist's explanation.

Here's a buff, shirtless George Washington statue I saw at the Museum of American History in D.C. a few years ago:
http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-j50288-s2-p179659-George_Washington_Statue.html

That sculpture must be a depiction of the time when George Washington snuck into Ben Franklin's workshop late at night and found Franklin's time machine prototype, travelled back to ancient Rome and was elected Caesar.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: PatrickChew on June 04, 2008, 04:29:10 PM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Harry_Carey.jpg)

Are you sure that's a Harry Caray statue?

Harry Caray
(http://www.harrycarays.com/images/about_harry_pic1.jpg)

Larry "Bud" Melman
(http://www.unclebarky.com/abovethefold_files/page0_blog_entry267_2.jpg)


Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's
(http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/3396/yunioshi4qt.jpg)

You be the judge.

Or is it Jiminy Glick?
(http://www.comedycentral.com/images/shows/primetime_glick/touts/m5/glick_m5.jpg)
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: namethebats on June 04, 2008, 04:42:31 PM
The design is somewhat similar to the Jordan statue in front of the United Center, although that one makes a little more sense.

They should add a 95-98 statue where he's shooting a fadeaway.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: Gilly on June 04, 2008, 08:54:01 PM
The design is somewhat similar to the Jordan statue in front of the United Center, although that one makes a little more sense.
[/quote]

It must be him shooting a jump shot with a ref blowing a whistle and nothing else....
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: jbissell on June 04, 2008, 10:28:46 PM
They should add a 95-98 statue where he's shooting a fadeaway.

And then they can have him surrounded by his 6 championships and 5 MVPs...
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: buffcoat on June 05, 2008, 09:32:24 AM


They should add a 95-98 statue where he's shooting a fadeaway.

Who?  Harry Carey?
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: namethebats on June 05, 2008, 09:43:58 AM
They should add a 95-98 statue where he's shooting a fadeaway.

And then they can have him surrounded by his 6 championships and 5 MVPs...

I wasn't taking a shot at him; I'm a Sonics fan, so I remember what he did after the comeback. I just thought it was odd the statue hadn't been updated to mention anything after the retirement.
Title: Re: harry caray statue at wrigely
Post by: jbissell on June 05, 2008, 10:55:42 AM
I wasn't taking a shot at him; I'm a Sonics fan, so I remember what he did after the comeback. I just thought it was odd the statue hadn't been updated to mention anything after the retirement.

Gotcha. I really hope that the Sonics end up staying in Seattle somehow.