Grumman S-2 Embarrasment

[hbtcoveralls]

Philadelphia has a history of strange artwork on display, but this installation in front of the Academy of fine art takes the cake.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillytrax/6329713817/
it's a real S-2 that's been turned into some kind of greenhouse. One other link had an interview with the "Sculptor". Hard to see how doing this to some innocent airplane is art.
Tom Bowers

[Flagon]

Agreed,deserves punishment !

[mh53eflyguy]

Maybe it's just me, but this is pretty distasteful. I find this "artwork" offensive and tacky, regardless if they used a good airframe or not. Plane crashes, simulated or not, is not artwork.

[K5DH]

From a photographic standpoint, the picture itself is stunning!

As for the subject matter, well, I think it's in really poor taste, and it's a huge waste of what appears to have been a viable aircraft for museum display or restoration to flying condition. I'm embarassed that such heresy is taking place in my hometown.

To each his own, I suppose. There's no accounting for taste (or in this case, a lack of it).

[JOHN MILLER]

[Ollie]

Nice!

[ArtS]

Initially, I agreed with the above comments. However, from what I recall, the S-2 carcas was in rough shape and going to be scrapped. I think there are pictures out there of what he started with. Considering how many S-2s are getting scrapped (noone saved the St. Augustine planes). I think this isn't a bad outcome other than being distatesful considering how many flying firefighters have lost their lives.

Regards,

Art S.

[C VEICH]

The "back story", whether you believe it or not is up to you.

http://thephiladelphiasalon.wordpress.c ... est-plaza/

[old iron]

There are worse things that can happen to an airplane, and this puts an interesting warbird out where it will be seen by those who may not otherwise be exposed to aviation. This can be an example of "informal education" where learning is happening outside the classroom and without a teacher. Some kid might be influenced by this display to become interested in old prop-driven airplanes. I would take that interest any way that we can get it!

[JohnB]

Very poor taste.
Should we find plane crashes as art?

Would the museum put a wrcked car out front?
Or is that taboo because a lot of people die in car crashes?
If it is, what's the diference between planes and cars.

Last edited by JohnB on Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

I saw it the other day and I feel that as much as we would like to save all planes, one that was in this shape serves a better purpose than just lying in the weeds somewhere waiting for a smelter.

Who knows who's curiosity it will stir? How many inner city kids will see it? Downtown Phillly isn't exactly warbird territory. Its exposure in an unusual location has value that isn't obvious, but may serve a purpose beyond the original intentions.

Just my 2 cents

Jiggersfromsphilly

[Fouga23]

I love it!

[Fearless Tower]

Reminds me of the DC-3 down in Florida that belonged to some museum that was put on the side of the road, pushed over on its nose like it had crashed and they hung a dummy in a parachute from the tail.

Both are pretty distasteful.

[TAdan]

I think it is pretty cool. It sounds like the plane would have been scrapped otherwise. Now it is in the heart of a major city where lots of people will see it. After reading the explanation posted above it does not seem like it is meant to portray a crash at all.

[JohnB]

If we want to get inner city kids interested in aviation, I can think of better ways...rather than giving them the idea that:
- planes are dangerous,
- old planes ("you know the ones with props") are junk.

If I lost a family member flying a S2 in the Navy or the CDF, I'd be appalled.

I'm all for re-purposing old planes, as you say better than the smelter.
But at least the London Museum (the Tate, IIRC) had the style to paint them as birds and such before displaying them...rather than a fake disaster scene that would be better in front of a strip joint near an airport or a desert "roadside attraction" wher you can see the amazing two-headed snake.