The Skill Crane Kid
The Skill Crane Kid
By Brian Feldman
February 6, 2011
Part of Artsfest
Stardust Video & Coffee, Winter Park FL</strong>
Until today, I never saw anyone get stuffed animals out of those “Skill Crane” machines. I didn’t even know you called them Skill Cranes; I thought of them as “Stuffed Animal” machines. But I was the first winner this morning, and now proudly own a blue super hero bat thingy, made in China. All courtesy of Mr. Feldman and his latest project.
No reasons need be given, none were offered, but Mr. Feldman spent this rainy Sunday camped out in one of these machines covered in cheap stuffed animals and spritzing like the clouds outside. Inspired by a child in Wisconsin who was small enough and limber enough to crawl into a Skill Crane. While Feldman is small and wiry, he used the regular front entrance normally locked to keep the shoppers from cleaning it out. Once he installed himself in the Skill Crane, a few early risers stopped in for coffee and took a chance for 50 cents. One person kept dropping the crane on Brian’s head; I doubt its feeble fingers could do more than massage his bald spot.
“Feldman in the Machine”
I dropped back in mid afternoon. The place was hopping and more than a few animals fell before the wimpy grabbers, and Feldman’s handlers were opening the window occasionally to let some oxygen into the machine. While it’s certainly not air tight, neither is it well ventilated and under the lights and surrounded by plush poly fill cuteness, this project has to be stifling. But the children were excited and the odds of getting an attractive plushy was much better than normal; Feldman was not averse to “helping.” Surveys were passed out and passersby asked to sketch their impression of the event. Somehow, this helps him get grants.
“A satisfied customer”
The event continued until midnight, so there was one last check in. By now, Feldman looked exhausted and a fog of spent breath built on the windows. The children were gone but the hipsters were out, and Feldman rooted through the animals to fulfill requests as the toy level dropped to the level of Feldman’s knees. Occasionally he looked in pain and attempted to stretch his legs in this Plexiglas Mini Cooper. As midnight approached, Mark Baratelli filmed a report as miscellaneous photographers documented with cameras sporting real lenses. After the countdown, the machine opened, volunteers help Feldman back into the real world, he drank water and sprinted off to the rest room. Art is art, and bodily functions are bodily functions. You need a little of both.
For more information on Brian Feldman Projects, please visit </em>
