My friend JT told me that a huge red ball would be placed in different part of our city for 7 days.
A red ball? I shook my head. Immediately I thought of a crowd admiring a huge yellow rubber duck a while back. What’s wrong with everyone? It was just a rubber duck or a red ball, can’t you see?
Since there wasn’t much going on around here, I visited the ball on the second day. The ball itself… well… let’s be honest, it was just a red ball. Huge indeed, but other than that, hmm…
However, to my surprise, when you place the red ball in the middle of somewhere, the ball did add something to the total view.
So, I changed my mind (a little bit). Maybe it is okay for us to like the red ball (a little bit).
Time to read about the project, I thought.
On the RedBall project website…
“On the surface, the experience seems to be about the ball itself as an object, but the true power of the project is what it can create for those who experience it.” — Kurt Perschke, the artist.
At some other place (forgot where), I learned that this could be viewed as a performing art. It is how people react to the red ball that is important.
It started making sense to me.
This whole experience taught me to have an open mind. I always thought I did have an open mind, but apparently it could be opened up more. To show my sincere apology to everyone who may be offended by my original attitude toward this project, I offer this idea (FREE)… a giant Rubik’s cube next?
Thanks for visiting my blog.
HHC Blog 
And now, for a quick (and immediate!) flashback to 1966: a different sort of Red Rubber Ball! (Gosh, that was a long time ago.)
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Wish I could say I know nothing about that 🙂 time flies…
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Helen, this is great! I wish we had something like this in my town. I love how everyone (including you!) really got into this. Awesome!
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Good afternoon, Lois. I hope it will go to your town… and I am anxious to find out what Pelicans will do to the ball 😉 They are so cute.
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You’re so right, It is how people react to the red ball that is important. These are great photos, especially to see how people enjoy this red ball. 🙂
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Good afternoon, Amy. It was fun to watch. If I didn’t have other things to do, I would stay for several hours. Many adults were very creative, It seemed like whenever a person got near the ball, he or she would become an artist instantly. And kids were having a lot of fun. Some kept going back to the ball. It was a great experience.
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It sounds like he created an object allowing people to be imaginative, creative, and to have fun. Truly inspiring! And, your photos expressed that perfectly. 🙂
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Helen, You just made this ball very interesting. This kind of artsy stuff could fit in with Vancouver since we really have no idea what art is all about. Really.
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Thanks, Perpetua. You are right. I think it would fit well in Vancouver. If some organizations are willing to sponsor the event, I think, they can fill out a request form. I should mention that there are people who questioned if this was a good way to spend money. It’s always hard to assign $$ on a piece of art.
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I love your photos of the red ball – and it does add interest to an otherwise normal everyday scene, right? It’s out of place and a bit odd and it adds a giant splash of color. A giant rubiks cube that you can actually twist and play would be really cool. 🙂 Great idea!
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Thanks, Sue. It does make everyday scene look more interesting. Every city should re-consider how to decorate the city 😉
I am glad you like my Rubik’s cube idea. I honestly think it will work 😉
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I never really thought much about the red ball until I read your post. So true. The fun starts when people start going up to the ball and having a good time with it. It sort of sparks our imaginations and it is what we make and think of it. I wonder what the guy lying on the ground beside the ball is doing, it looks like he may be exercising 🙂
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Thanks, Mabel. Your comment made me smile. Maybe it’s difficult for us to see the value of a red ball because we have science background? I don’t know. I couldn’t believe my ears when my friends told me about the yellow rubber duck. They were so excited and I had a hard time to admit that I didn’t get it. 😉 Now I do…
The guy lying on the ground was taking a picture. I almost asked him to take one photo for me since he was already in that position 😉
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We have had a few gigantic yellow rubber ducks around Melbourne where I live, and I loved going out to see it. But with the red ball…I didn’t think much of it. Maybe it really is because of our science background and we like to see the world logically. Then again, I am impartial to all things cute like a rubber duck, which would explain why I got it 😉
Haha, that guy certainly knows how to get the good shots. And you do too, catching him in action 😀
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This is very cool and a good lesson about what something looks like is not the only use it has.
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Thanks, Ruth. Yes, it’s a humble experience that I won’t forget. 😉
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I wish we had something like this back when I was in the Twin Cities. Very good photo ops! I think number 2, 3, and the last one are great shots. May I suggest getting really close and low using a wide or an ultra wide angle lens? 😀
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Thank you, Adhika. Good suggestion! To be honest, I didn’t think of that. But when I saw that guy lying on the floor taking a picture, I wanted to check what he saw. I didn’t — shyness is in my way sometime. Another reason was that there were so many people waiting to get their photo taken, I didn’t want to take a lot of time.
The 4th photo… was not an impressive from outside. I didn’t go inside of that building, which was another mistake. I thought we should respect the store and not to bother them. But actually it looked better inside – it was the only place they use prop with the ball (legs coming out at the bottom of the ball).
I was disappointed with myself, but at the same time, I like to be a considerate person. I need to figure out where is the line, if you know what I mean ;-(
Thank you a lot!
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I was just like you before, I am getting better at this but here is my thought. Just do whatever you have to do until they tell you not to. I mean, of course we have to be reasonable people, but some times other people are the ones who are not reasonable. 😀
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Thanks. I will try 😉
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Forgot to say… the last day (the last photo) the ball was on the second floor. (I did take some photo from the street.) We have to go inside of a bar to use their stairs to go up. I hesitated, but I finally followed someone else and went upstairs. 😉
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A terrific set of photos that are so telling in their imagery.
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Thank you, Sally. I am learning from everyone! 😉
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It’s mutual.
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Awesome. Thank you.
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Thank you so much, Sartenada. Thank you for your visit. You have a very interesting blog. I plan to read more. 😉
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Oh that is such a great idea. That guy was so smart to think of it. 😀 It’s huge too. Your photos were so fun!!!
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Thanks, Cee. It was fun. I wish we had this when my daughter was little. 😉
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A giant Rubik’s cube? I love it!!
In our city they have recently put up 9 pieces of art throughout the city. Most of them (I believe) are angel wings. I haven’t visited the sites yet….but now that you have set the example…I will tour the art!!
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Thanks, Tree. I hope you will visit those angel wings. It sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to see them! 😉
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I plan to! And I will be sure to post pictures when I do!
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Aha…such an impressive project. And you captured the essence so well. It’s the story I loved the most – your thoughts and experiences. Very interesting post, Helen. 🙂
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Thanks, Suyash. You have to be like me – not too smart, to have so many ah-ha moments. Thick skin helps also. 😉
Have a nice weekend. (Another grey day here ;-(
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Is it so? It’s a bright sunny today here, except morning when it rained.
Hehehe, I agree with you. It helps sometimes not to be smart. And who said I am smart 😉 😉
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I always love love love bold public art. Looks so so awesome! It needs to make its way here in Greece, and it’d be very interesting how Greeks react.
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Thanks, Rommel. After reading your comment, I felt we were so lucky! 😉 Greece has other things to worry about at the moment. Hopefully later…
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It does create some great street photography opportunities 🙂
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