The Giant Inflatable Ego of Portobello...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 May 2010, 16:53

...is currently tethered in the Town Hall, looking for all the world like the misshapen reject that wasn't invited to the soft play party.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » 29 May 2010, 11:27

Did you manage to see it on the beach?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 30 May 2010, 08:43

Yes. On the beach it looked more like a mutant, malformed inflatable beach toy that no-one wanted to play with. I think it knew it too. It looked grumpy - straining on its leash like a misbehaving dog.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » 30 May 2010, 11:37

Do you think it represented Portobello?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 30 May 2010, 12:41

No. To be honest, I think it was a bit of a silly idea from the beginning. In what way was it ever going to represent Portobello? I don't know how much that particular project cost but can you imagine, for example, if that money had been used to put on a hot air balloon event on the beach instead?

Wouldn't that have created much more interest and excitement?

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » 30 May 2010, 15:37

I can see your point, attempting to represent the whole of Portobello is a near impossible task. I think it was more a means of highlighting certain aspects of the place - be it successful or not is a matter of opinion. I think a hot air balloon event sounds like a great idea! What did you have in mind?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 30 May 2010, 15:55

I don't have a specific idea. I suppose it occurred to me because it's another large inflated thing that needs to be tethered to the ground. My point was that the money that was spent on Avatar might instead have been spent on having a hot air balloon on the beach. Preferably a nice traditional plain white one, without all the sponsorship logos. It would have looked beautiful and dramatic in exactly the same way that Avatar did not.

In reality, I imagine that having a hot air balloon (or at least one that actually transports people) flying over the Firth of Forth is not a good idea. I can see how a risk assessment might raise one or two health and safety issues.

Having said that, inflatable sculpture carries its own risks:

Artist in sculpture tragedy fined

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » 01 Jun 2010, 22:37

What are your thoughts on funding public art?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Jun 2010, 22:43

Ha, I wondered when we would get to that. How much do you get paid per question?

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » 01 Jun 2010, 23:07

Well, get to that we did indeed. It is one of the larger discussions to be had that tends to get avoided. I am quite sure there are plenty of people who do not feel spending public money on public art is justified and it is interesting to hear what people have to say about it, especially within this community and in relation to the Imagine Porty Prom project.

If you wanted to contribute your thoughts to the range of discussions that are going on within the local and wider community and Big Things On The Beach then you can always visit us at the Public Art House.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Jun 2010, 23:12

I'm intrigued. Are you paid as an intern?