One Flew Over the Void

[gnarlydorkette]

One flew over the Mexican border... in the name of art By Elliot Spagat in Tijuana

David Smith Snr, who holds a world record for the longest distance travelled by a human fired from a cannon, has added to his list of cannonball coups by shooting across the US-Mexico border.

The feat was the idea of Javier Tellez, a Venezuelan artist, and is part of a series of public art projects in the border cities of Tijuana and San Diego.

Smith climbed into the barrel of the cannon on a beach in Tijuana on Saturday and flashed his US passport. About 600 people applauded as he soared about 150ft before landing uninjured in a net in Border Field State Park in San Diego. US border patrol agents and an ambulance were waiting near by.

David Smith Jnr, also a human cannonball, said his father's flight was the first across a border by way of cannon.

Tellez organised the cannonball launch with psychiatric patients at the Baja California Mental Health Centre in Mexicali, Mexico, as a therapeutic project. He called the project "living sculpture" and said it was about "dissolving borders" between the US and Mexico, and between mental health patients and the rest of the world. "David Smith is a metaphor for flying over human borders, flying over the law, flying over everything that is established," he said.

Tellez, 36, and Smith Snr worked closely on the backdrop, music, costumes and advertising for the project, called One Flew Over the Void. Tellez plans to make a documentary film about it.

Although it is against the law for anyone, including US citizens, to enter the country outside an official port of entry, Smith Snr was not crossing illegally as the local border patrol chief had given permission for the stunt..

Smith Snr, of Half Way, Missouri, is listed in Guinness World Records for a human fired from a cannon. He flew 185ft 10in on 29 May 1998 in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

The Smith family has five cannonballs: father, son, two daughters and a cousin. They travel around the world to perform at events. AP

David Smith Snr, who holds a world record for the longest distance travelled by a human fired from a cannon, has added to his list of cannonball coups by shooting across the US-Mexico border.

The feat was the idea of Javier Tellez, a Venezuelan artist, and is part of a series of public art projects in the border cities of Tijuana and San Diego.

Smith climbed into the barrel of the cannon on a beach in Tijuana on Saturday and flashed his US passport. About 600 people applauded as he soared about 150ft before landing uninjured in a net in Border Field State Park in San Diego. US border patrol agents and an ambulance were waiting near by.

David Smith Jnr, also a human cannonball, said his father's flight was the first across a border by way of cannon.

Tellez organised the cannonball launch with psychiatric patients at the Baja California Mental Health Centre in Mexicali, Mexico, as a therapeutic project. He called the project "living sculpture" and said it was about "dissolving borders" between the US and Mexico, and between mental health patients and the rest of the world. "David Smith is a metaphor for flying over human borders, flying over the law, flying over everything that is established," he said.

Tellez, 36, and Smith Snr worked closely on the backdrop, music, costumes and advertising for the project, called One Flew Over the Void. Tellez plans to make a documentary film about it.

Although it is against the law for anyone, including US citizens, to enter the country outside an official port of entry, Smith Snr was not crossing illegally as the local border patrol chief had given permission for the stunt..

Smith Snr, of Half Way, Missouri, is listed in Guinness World Records for a human fired from a cannon. He flew 185ft 10in on 29 May 1998 in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

The Smith family has five cannonballs: father, son, two daughters and a cousin. They travel around the world to perform at events. AP

Javier Téllez told NBC 7/39 that his goal with One Flew Over the Void is to create a powerful political message about open borders.

"My work as an artist is to create bridges -- connection between two different sides -- and get rid of the walls," said Téllez.

One Flew Over the Void kicks off a network of contemporary art programs throughout San Diego and Tijuana. Some members of the art community -- including Derrick Cartwright, who is the executive director of the San Diego Museum of Art -- think that sending a man soaring over the border fence is a serious artistic expression, one that will undoubtedly attract attention and create discussion.

To view the video of the human cannonball, click here!

I saw it on the local news and just read it in today's newspaper.

A priceless picture:

The man is holding up his passport! I thought this was a great "political/art" piece... and the best of all: it is only 20 minutes away from where I am. I wish I was there to check out the stunt yesterday to go and enjoy the fun!

 

[VamPyroX]

Wow... interesting!