All Over Albany

Please explain how this display was considered appropriate? It appeared to be an exercise in the glorification of destruction or perhaps a pyromanic's fantasy. If they, the producers of this misfire, sought a dramatic opening act for the Tulip Festival, pull the walls of the windmill down amid fireworks - don't set a wooden structure on fire in front of children and amid impressionable young people.

... said Linda on May 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM | link

Cool!

... said Rob on May 11, 2008 at 7:35 AM | link

Ok, the 14 year old boy in me thought that this was about as cool as watching that jet car focus its afterburner on the beater k car at Lebanon Valley Speedway. The K car was reduced to a pile of melted metal and burning rubber.... Coooool... This windmill was reduced to carbon... coooll.. I did think it was really cool that the water around the burning structure appeared to at one point to begin to boil... OH... so cool..

And the adult in me thought that it was insane. and some sort of adulation of destruction.. Destroy the Dutch.. Long life us!

Hence I would suspect that the "artists" involved would consider the paradox of my duality: "Mission Accomplished"

Should it be done again?

I will let others hash that out, but the "Albany as usual" part of my brain says we have not seen the end of burning stuff in Washington Park.

... said HRGREEN on May 11, 2008 at 11:21 AM | link

What the photos don't show you is me dancing in front of the windmill. My moves were so hot, the whole thing caught fire. Sorry about that.

... said Pantaloons on May 11, 2008 at 1:13 PM | link

I think the sculpture itself is good public art and should be installed someplace in the park. And the accompanying music composed for the occasion was superb. (Not much mention in the media about the music.) As for The Burn, in retrospect it was kind of pointless. Sort of engrossing for the first 5 minutes as the windmill burned (but no different than watching a burning building), but after the windmill collapsed in a heap it was kind of boring watching the wood burn out. The crowd around me got restless, wondering "Is that it? Is it over?" And are we really supposed to believe that all that billowing black smoke was environmentally okay?
No doubt next year they'll burn a giant pair of wooden shoes or some other Dutch schlockery. I can't picture myself bothering to see this again. There must be some way to sponsor or stimulate public art without it becoming formulaic.

... said chrisck on May 12, 2008 at 11:36 AM | link

Night Fire was one of the most brilliant experiences I have yet to witness in Albany. A maginificent treat for the senses! The heat, the crackling embers, the music, the visual stunningness. . . . the list goes on. Finally, something different. . . something just simply cool and peaceful. For those complainers. . . its easy to complain . . . what is it you are contributing to this great capital city to make it different. . .?? I doubt anything! Let the fun just be fun. Stop being such boring critics!

... said anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 1:38 PM | link

Personally, I'm contributing well over $4,000 a year in property taxes. That's what.

... said Nicki on May 13, 2008 at 3:07 PM | link

Okay, so the heat and the crackling embers were....um....interesting (?!?!?!)....but what really floored me was the wincing from the people around me as they watched their money burn. I still have no idea how igniting some stacked lincoln log popsicle sticks on a raft was enticing. For that amount of build-up, I was at least hoping for some explosion....maybe a few firecrackers.....a flower that sprouted sparklers, even?

... said heathah on May 14, 2008 at 1:12 AM | link