Thieves Steal First Night Installation

An Austinist reader left a comment in our First Night preview inquiring about the canopy of bells installed on 1st Street Bridge. "Liminal Spaces," envisioned and executed by local artist Neesha Thakkar, was meant to "represent the movement between grounded and defined states," and "create an idyllic passageway with a processional quality." Handcrafted in India and each featuring a unique ring tone, the brass bells were to be given away after First Night to the community as mementos. The creation process and installation description can be found on Neesha's blog.

Sadly, the bells were stolen in the early morning hours on New Year's Day:

Yesterday or early this morning every handmade brass bell was stolen from the first street bridge installation... The pieces of the installation were to be a gift to the community. I am sorry that until they are found they will not be available for distribution.

Those with any information are invited to email Neesha directly.

["Liminal Spaces" Site]

Photo by LaSuprema on flickr

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By Allen Y Chen in News, Other on January 4, 2007 11:59 AM 0 Comments

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Anon 2

While I respect the amount of work that went into planning, tying, and hanging these things... to elevate them to the impossibly lofty status of high art intended to "represent the movement between grounded and defined states," and "create an idyllic passageway with a processional quality" seems a bit much for me. That also describes Christmas lights, a nicely mowed lawn, and possibly a playlist on my iPod.

It's bells and string, for fk's sake. Labeling it as anything any more significant is an insult to art with truly sophisticated conceptual thinking and execution.

Anon

O.K., I didn't steal the bells, but I thought this installation was pretty crappy. I was hoping for some sort of elaborate network of bells, something that chime, something other than a string with tiny crappy flea market Xmas bells that didn't make a sound and looked like it cost $75 to make. Sad Austin public art strikes again. Congrats, though, to Luke Savisky's I of Texas, one of the First Night works that actually inspired awe and wonder.

reading the blog...

It would seem that the bells have been already distributed within the community. As her blog states:

Check here on January 2nd for information on where you may procure a part of the installation-- a bell of your own (for free) to swing above your doorstep or attach to your rearview mirror for the new year!

Sanjeev

Neesha is a good friend of mine, and I know how hard she worked on it. There was no misinterpreting the sign she left, and it's sad that vandals or people who do not understand English would ruin the installation within 1 day.

Here is the sign she had accompanying the display:

Handmade brass bells suspended by jute rope create a contemplative passageway to celebrate the possibilities and promises of a New Year.

Upon completion of the installation, the bells and rope will be distributed without cost within the community. For more information on the project and where to locate the bells visit:

http://www.neeshathakkar.blogspot.com

notice the word completion?

kenneth

I'm inclined to agree with Edward's theory. People leaving the area read the artist's statement, then saw other people helping themselves to a bell.

"Oh look, she means for us to take one as a memento, like those people are doing." Before you know it, they're gone.

Edward

We walked home across the bridge after new years and many of the bells were already missing. The artist's statement was posted on the bridge mentioning that the bells were to be gifted to the community. Based on her statement, it certainly seemed to me that the people who had grabbed the bells off the strings (they were well within reach) were following her artistic intent (i.e. - gifting to the community), but apparently that wasn't the case. I highly doubt this was a malicious attempt by any single person to deface her installation, but rather an artist misunderstanding by many of the people who walked by after midnight (when the installation was to be dismantled) and read her statement. Regardless of the means, it appears at least the bells did indeed go to various members of the community (no, I didn't take one) as mementos of an interesting installation and great city celebration.