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Cardiff Kook

February 13, 2023

Coordinates: 33°1′8.26″N 117°16′56.95″W / 33.0189611°N 117.2824861°W / 33.0189611; -117.2824861 Magic Carpet Ride is the official name of a 6-foot (1.8 m) high bronze sculpture (2007) of a surfer by Matthew Antichevich, an artist and sculpture instructor at Mt. San Jacinto College.[1] The sculpture is mounted on a 6-foot high granite base with poetry inscription by Robert Nanninga,[2] and is in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California, United States. Locals have nicknamed Magic Carpet Ride as The Cardiff Kook, a pejorative name popularized by the local surfing community.[3][4][5][6][7]

History

The sculpture was commissioned by the Cardiff Botanical Society at a cost of approximately $120,000.[8][9][10] It was installed in 2007 at the entrances to the San Elijo State Beach campground on Coast Highway 101.[3][10] The $92,000 construction cost was raised by the Botanical Society, with the $30,000 installation funded by the city of Encinitas.[10]

The sculpture was intended to depict a surfer performing a "(backside) floater", but the Botanical Society's budget could not cover the cost of an additional water/wave component.[11][12] Antichevich was chosen from more than 50 bidders on the commission.[12] His original design was for a female surfer on a breaking wave, which also exceeded the budget, and the Botanical Society chose an image of a male surfer on a granite plinth that halved the amount of required bronze.[13] Other proposed designs were discussed with the Botanical Society, including the figure of professional surfer Rob Machado and a surfer on a longboard.[13] According to Antichevich and to Michael Ames Clark (then-chairman of the Botanical Society's selection committee), the sculpture represented the joy and awkwardness of a young boy learning how to surf, in acknowledgement of the area's attraction to novice surfers.[3][12]

Public response

The San Diego Architectural Foundation, in its annual "Orchids & Onions" awards for the best and worst architecture of the year, awarded the Magic Carpet Ride an Onion rating in 2007.[8] The nickname of The Cardiff Kook comes from derogatory surfer slang for a "wannabe" surfer, and reflects the low opinion that local surfers had of the sculpture.[3] The sculpture was criticized by surfers for its unrealistic depiction of a surfer. Other critics maintained that the feet were positioned incorrectly, the hands were odd in appearance, the figure was too thin and effeminate, and that as a whole it resembled the figure of a novice surfer about to fall off his board (as the artist intended) rather than that of a more experienced surfer.[7][10][13]

The early criticism surprised both the Botanical Society and artist Matthew Antichevich,[10] who stated that he did not expect the piece to be as widely misunderstood as it was upon its unveiling.[13] The original models for the sculpture included a wave component, and Antichevich stated that if the wave had been included, the figure's surfing stance would have been better understood.[13] Antichevich also noted that it was impossible, while creating the sculpture, to look at its hands from the necessary angles, since he "wasn't working 16 feet in the air".[12] At the sculpture's installation, Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks defended the piece and answered critics with "Well, you go raise your own 90,000 dollars and put up a statue that you like.".[14] After its early criticisms, the sculpture has evolved into a humorous landmark attracting frequent "costuming" efforts. The popularity of The Cardiff Kook has led to its own Google Maps feature listing, and themed community events, such as "The Cardiff Kook Costume 5K & 10K Run."

Alterations to Magic Carpet Ride / The Cardiff Kook

The sculpture began to attract pranksters who dressed the surfer in various attire, costumes, even with extended backdrops, which at times approached vandalism.[3][7] The list of such pranks is extensive, often coordinated with current events: a pink pleated skirt, bikini top and lucha libre wrestling mask;[15] a Zorro costume;[16] a pumpkin head (at Halloween);[16] a Santa Claus hat (at Christmas);[16] a full Uncle Sam costume for United States Independence Day;[16] the hood of the prisoner on a box photograph from Abu Ghraib prison;[10] a clown costume;[17] a loincloth and surrounded by a prehistoric setting while being snatched up by a sculpted pterodactyl in flight;[18] and a papier mâché statue of a shark about to swallow up the surfer from beneath.[5][7][16][17][19]

The shark costume was one of two prank additions to the sculpture performed by local artist Eric Hardtke, himself a sculptor who works in bronze and stone, and accomplices.[3][12][20] The first was a 2009 addition next to the statue of a wave crashing down over the Kook, carrying a wire mesh outline of another surfer about to knock the Kook off his board.[12] This wave still exists, since it was removed undamaged by city employees, and is stored at the ranch of Paul Ecke, a local grower of poinsettias.[3][12] It is constructed of wood, paper, and chicken wire, and Hardtke stated that "It was to make the point that you could make a better sculpture for less money.".[3]

The second alteration to the Kook by Hardtke was the shark.[12] This 15 foot work was made of papier mâché over a wooden frame, and estimated by Hardtke to have consumed $450 and two weeks.[3] It was constructed in two halves, which were then sealed together around the Kook using foam sealant that was moulded to resemble ocean spray coming down off the flanks of the shark.[5] It was installed in the early morning, around 04:00, of 2010-07-24[3][4][5] by Hardtke and some two dozen friends, and had been presaged over the preceding few days by the appearance of similarly constructed shark fins, positioned across the street from the statue and gradually moved closer to the Kook over a period of days, to imply a shark drawing close underwater to the Kook.[3][5][6] $400 in diverted employee time was used to clean up the shark.[12] Unlike the wave, the shark was damaged when it was removed by four city public works employees,[6][12] who took 10 minutes to split it apart using hand saws in the morning of 2010-07-26[20] and two hours overall to remove it.[6]

Hardtke himself was not critical of the Kook, and considers it a fair representation of average surfers, saying that "I'm sure I look like that. That's why everybody is so down on it. They like to think they don't look like that, but they do.".[3]

Today, people continue to dress the Kook in various costumes and signage. Often for events such as birthdays, graduations, and local sports games, Cardiff locals will turn to the Kook for a fun way to announce to the Cardiff community that an event is happening. While these alterations are on a much smaller scale than the ones above, they are what locals tend to look out for on daily strolls past the Kook.

Since the large alterations of the Cardiff Kook began, merchandise such as calendars have been created as a sort of souvenir for tourists to purchase when visiting the city of Encinitas.

City officials' reaction

While such pranks are officially discouraged by Encinitas mayor Dan Dalager and city authorities, it is unofficially acknowledged that the sculpture's repeated costuming or vandalism is a boost to Cardiff's tourist trade.[3][12][17] Antichevich regards the vandalism as an insult to his work.[16][20] No legal action has been taken against such vandals,[7] because no damage has been done to the sculpture itself.[3][7] It does not cost the city extra to clean up the various defacements, but it does divert time from tasks that city employees could otherwise be doing.[12] Mayor Dalager has stated that, while he personally likes the attention that this gives to the sculpture, he does not want the city to be having to divert city time and money away from the city's real problems.[6][7] Deputy city manager Richard Phillips concurred, comparing the vandalism of the Kook to school pranksters dressing up a school's mascot, stating that "it gets old" and that city time and money could be better spent fixing potholes than cleaning up pranks.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pratte, Bob (April 5, 2012). "HEMET: Cardiff Kook model a Hemetian". Press Enterprise. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. ^ ""Magic Carpet Ride" (2007) by Matthew Antichevich". Public Art in Public Places. October 18, 2021. from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Conor Dougherty (August 31, 2010). "Surfer Statue Stokes Gnarly Controversy in California". The Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ a b "Fake Shark Devours Surfer In Latest Statue Prank". CBS News. Associated Press. July 26, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e Terry Rodgers (July 24, 2010). "'Cardiff Kook' meets 'Jaws' in Encinitas". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  6. ^ a b c d e Edward Sifuentes (July 27, 2010). . North County Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Lindsay Hood; Artie Ojeda; Michelle Wayland (August 31, 2010). "The Cardiff Kook Goes National". NBC San Diego.
  8. ^ a b Roger Showley (December 2, 2007). . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on August 4, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  9. ^ Angela Lau (July 21, 2007). "Encinitas to debut outdoor sculpture". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Tony Perry (September 3, 2007). . Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012.
  11. ^ "Surfers snub salutary statue". United Press International. August 12, 2007.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jonathan Horn (September 11, 2010). "Pranks achieve fame for long-suffering 'Cardiff Kook'". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  13. ^ a b c d e Adam Kaye (July 25, 2007). . North County Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  14. ^ Elizabeth Fitzsimons; Bruce Lieberman (December 5, 2007). "The Orchid, the Onion: Cottonwood Creek Park, surfer sculpture are singled out, but for different reasons". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  15. ^ Kristina Davis (August 15, 2007). "Pranksters dress up surfer statue again". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  16. ^ a b c d e f . 10News. September 6, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  17. ^ a b c . 10News. August 25, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  18. ^ Jonathan Horn (August 13, 2011). "Pterodactyl sweeps down on Cardiff Kook". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  19. ^ . 10News. July 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  20. ^ a b c . 10News. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.

External links

  • The Cardiff Kook - Gallery

February 13, 2023
cardiff, kook, coordinates, 0189611, 2824861, 0189611, 2824861, magic, carpet, ride, official, name, foot, high, bronze, sculpture, 2007, surfer, matthew, antichevich, artist, sculpture, instructor, jacinto, college, sculpture, mounted, foot, high, granite, ba. Coordinates 33 1 8 26 N 117 16 56 95 W 33 0189611 N 117 2824861 W 33 0189611 117 2824861 Magic Carpet Ride is the official name of a 6 foot 1 8 m high bronze sculpture 2007 of a surfer by Matthew Antichevich an artist and sculpture instructor at Mt San Jacinto College 1 The sculpture is mounted on a 6 foot high granite base with poetry inscription by Robert Nanninga 2 and is in Cardiff by the Sea Encinitas California United States Locals have nicknamed Magic Carpet Ride as The Cardiff Kook a pejorative name popularized by the local surfing community 3 4 5 6 7 Contents 1 History 2 Public response 3 Alterations to Magic Carpet Ride The Cardiff Kook 3 1 City officials reaction 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe sculpture was commissioned by the Cardiff Botanical Society at a cost of approximately 120 000 8 9 10 It was installed in 2007 at the entrances to the San Elijo State Beach campground on Coast Highway 101 3 10 The 92 000 construction cost was raised by the Botanical Society with the 30 000 installation funded by the city of Encinitas 10 The sculpture was intended to depict a surfer performing a backside floater but the Botanical Society s budget could not cover the cost of an additional water wave component 11 12 Antichevich was chosen from more than 50 bidders on the commission 12 His original design was for a female surfer on a breaking wave which also exceeded the budget and the Botanical Society chose an image of a male surfer on a granite plinth that halved the amount of required bronze 13 Other proposed designs were discussed with the Botanical Society including the figure of professional surfer Rob Machado and a surfer on a longboard 13 According to Antichevich and to Michael Ames Clark then chairman of the Botanical Society s selection committee the sculpture represented the joy and awkwardness of a young boy learning how to surf in acknowledgement of the area s attraction to novice surfers 3 12 Public response EditThe San Diego Architectural Foundation in its annual Orchids amp Onions awards for the best and worst architecture of the year awarded the Magic Carpet Ride an Onion rating in 2007 8 The nickname of The Cardiff Kook comes from derogatory surfer slang for a wannabe surfer and reflects the low opinion that local surfers had of the sculpture 3 The sculpture was criticized by surfers for its unrealistic depiction of a surfer Other critics maintained that the feet were positioned incorrectly the hands were odd in appearance the figure was too thin and effeminate and that as a whole it resembled the figure of a novice surfer about to fall off his board as the artist intended rather than that of a more experienced surfer 7 10 13 The early criticism surprised both the Botanical Society and artist Matthew Antichevich 10 who stated that he did not expect the piece to be as widely misunderstood as it was upon its unveiling 13 The original models for the sculpture included a wave component and Antichevich stated that if the wave had been included the figure s surfing stance would have been better understood 13 Antichevich also noted that it was impossible while creating the sculpture to look at its hands from the necessary angles since he wasn t working 16 feet in the air 12 At the sculpture s installation Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks defended the piece and answered critics with Well you go raise your own 90 000 dollars and put up a statue that you like 14 After its early criticisms the sculpture has evolved into a humorous landmark attracting frequent costuming efforts The popularity of The Cardiff Kook has led to its own Google Maps feature listing and themed community events such as The Cardiff Kook Costume 5K amp 10K Run Alterations to Magic Carpet Ride The Cardiff Kook EditThe sculpture began to attract pranksters who dressed the surfer in various attire costumes even with extended backdrops which at times approached vandalism 3 7 The list of such pranks is extensive often coordinated with current events a pink pleated skirt bikini top and lucha libre wrestling mask 15 a Zorro costume 16 a pumpkin head at Halloween 16 a Santa Claus hat at Christmas 16 a full Uncle Sam costume for United States Independence Day 16 the hood of the prisoner on a box photograph from Abu Ghraib prison 10 a clown costume 17 a loincloth and surrounded by a prehistoric setting while being snatched up by a sculpted pterodactyl in flight 18 and a papier mache statue of a shark about to swallow up the surfer from beneath 5 7 16 17 19 The shark costume was one of two prank additions to the sculpture performed by local artist Eric Hardtke himself a sculptor who works in bronze and stone and accomplices 3 12 20 The first was a 2009 addition next to the statue of a wave crashing down over the Kook carrying a wire mesh outline of another surfer about to knock the Kook off his board 12 This wave still exists since it was removed undamaged by city employees and is stored at the ranch of Paul Ecke a local grower of poinsettias 3 12 It is constructed of wood paper and chicken wire and Hardtke stated that It was to make the point that you could make a better sculpture for less money 3 The second alteration to the Kook by Hardtke was the shark 12 This 15 foot work was made of papier mache over a wooden frame and estimated by Hardtke to have consumed 450 and two weeks 3 It was constructed in two halves which were then sealed together around the Kook using foam sealant that was moulded to resemble ocean spray coming down off the flanks of the shark 5 It was installed in the early morning around 04 00 of 2010 07 24 3 4 5 by Hardtke and some two dozen friends and had been presaged over the preceding few days by the appearance of similarly constructed shark fins positioned across the street from the statue and gradually moved closer to the Kook over a period of days to imply a shark drawing close underwater to the Kook 3 5 6 400 in diverted employee time was used to clean up the shark 12 Unlike the wave the shark was damaged when it was removed by four city public works employees 6 12 who took 10 minutes to split it apart using hand saws in the morning of 2010 07 26 20 and two hours overall to remove it 6 Hardtke himself was not critical of the Kook and considers it a fair representation of average surfers saying that I m sure I look like that That s why everybody is so down on it They like to think they don t look like that but they do 3 Today people continue to dress the Kook in various costumes and signage Often for events such as birthdays graduations and local sports games Cardiff locals will turn to the Kook for a fun way to announce to the Cardiff community that an event is happening While these alterations are on a much smaller scale than the ones above they are what locals tend to look out for on daily strolls past the Kook Since the large alterations of the Cardiff Kook began merchandise such as calendars have been created as a sort of souvenir for tourists to purchase when visiting the city of Encinitas City officials reaction Edit While such pranks are officially discouraged by Encinitas mayor Dan Dalager and city authorities it is unofficially acknowledged that the sculpture s repeated costuming or vandalism is a boost to Cardiff s tourist trade 3 12 17 Antichevich regards the vandalism as an insult to his work 16 20 No legal action has been taken against such vandals 7 because no damage has been done to the sculpture itself 3 7 It does not cost the city extra to clean up the various defacements but it does divert time from tasks that city employees could otherwise be doing 12 Mayor Dalager has stated that while he personally likes the attention that this gives to the sculpture he does not want the city to be having to divert city time and money away from the city s real problems 6 7 Deputy city manager Richard Phillips concurred comparing the vandalism of the Kook to school pranksters dressing up a school s mascot stating that it gets old and that city time and money could be better spent fixing potholes than cleaning up pranks 7 See also EditGoogle Arts amp Culture Magic Carpet Ride The Cardiff Kook The Headington Shark Gavle GoatReferences Edit Pratte Bob April 5 2012 HEMET Cardiff Kook model a Hemetian Press Enterprise Retrieved August 26 2018 Magic Carpet Ride 2007 by Matthew Antichevich Public Art in Public Places October 18 2021 Archived from the original on August 10 2016 Retrieved October 21 2021 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Conor Dougherty August 31 2010 Surfer Statue Stokes Gnarly Controversy in California The Wall Street Journal a b Fake Shark Devours Surfer In Latest Statue Prank CBS News Associated Press July 26 2010 a b c d e Terry Rodgers July 24 2010 Cardiff Kook meets Jaws in Encinitas The San Diego Union Tribune a b c d e Edward Sifuentes July 27 2010 ENCINITAS Shark tale reaches the end North County Times Archived from the original on October 2 2010 Retrieved September 26 2010 a b c d e f g h Lindsay Hood Artie Ojeda Michelle Wayland August 31 2010 The Cardiff Kook Goes National NBC San Diego a b Roger Showley December 2 2007 Orchids amp Onions entwines high roads with low roads The San Diego Union Tribune Archived from the original on August 4 2011 Retrieved September 26 2010 Angela Lau July 21 2007 Encinitas to debut outdoor sculpture The San Diego Union Tribune a b c d e f Tony Perry September 3 2007 Statue makes waves Concord Monitor Archived from the original on April 4 2012 Surfers snub salutary statue United Press International August 12 2007 a b c d e f g h i j k l Jonathan Horn September 11 2010 Pranks achieve fame for long suffering Cardiff Kook The San Diego Union Tribune a b c d e Adam Kaye July 25 2007 Amid criticism artist defends Cardiff surfing sculpture North County Times Archived from the original on August 27 2010 Retrieved September 26 2010 Elizabeth Fitzsimons Bruce Lieberman December 5 2007 The Orchid the Onion Cottonwood Creek Park surfer sculpture are singled out but for different reasons The San Diego Union Tribune Kristina Davis August 15 2007 Pranksters dress up surfer statue again The San Diego Union Tribune a b c d e f Vandals Strike Cardiff Kook Again Surfer Statue Dressed As Zorro For Holiday Weekend 10News September 6 2010 Archived from the original on August 12 2011 Retrieved September 26 2010 a b c Pranksters Dress Cardiff Kook Statue As Clown 10News August 25 2010 Archived from the original on August 12 2011 Retrieved September 26 2010 Jonathan Horn August 13 2011 Pterodactyl sweeps down on Cardiff Kook The San Diego Union Tribune Cardiff Sculpture Shows Shark Swallowing Surfer 10News July 24 2010 Archived from the original on August 12 2011 Retrieved September 26 2010 a b c Creator Of Giant Paper Mache Shark Speaks Out 1 Day Before Removal 10News July 26 2010 Archived from the original on August 12 2011 Retrieved September 26 2010 External links EditThe Cardiff Kook Gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cardiff Kook amp oldid 1081170938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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