Vandals/artists drop flying dinosaur on surfing statue
Vandals/critics/guerrilla artists placed an elaborate redesign: “a huge prehistoric flying creature, a pterosaur maybe, swooping down over the surfer, with a painted backdrop of a volcanic eruption for context. Also, small palm trees and two velociraptors,” on the official civic statue along Highway 101 in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, “Magic Carpet Ride” (unofficially called “Cardiff Kook”), of a young boy on a surfboard. Surfers and artists say that the dainty looks of the young boy are an insult to the macho sport of surfing.
Notice how they always confuse vandals and artists? 
Critics, on the other hand, rarely produce anything of real value.
The article contains a photo of the work, which is merely the latest in a long chain of modifications to the statue since its installation in 2007.
‘Under cover of darkness, various groups and individuals have bedecked the statue as Michael Jackson, Oprah, a British royal bride, a witch (at Halloween), Vincent Van Gogh (on his birthday) and more. It has worn a bridal dress, baggy shorts, a red bra and a military uniform.
The most spectacular of the redesigns was a year ago, when a canvas-and-cardboard shark was built around the statue, seemingly devouring the surfer — like in the movie “Jaws.”’
Encitias City Hall is not amused. The city spent $2,000 recently to repair damage to the statue.
Crowds in Cardiff, meanwhile, posed for photos in front of the redesign.
-Bill at
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