In which I am travestied by Mr Punch

[imomus]

An email arrived this morning from my friend Vincent Punch.

"This is Vincent the security guard at the Whitney Museum (NY)," he wrote, "whom you gave your bull-horn to at the end of last year Whitney's biennial. About a month ago, we held our Christmas staff art show and I presented a piece of work with myself as a desperate Momus (thus Fake-mus) wanna-be. It was a hit and I hope that you will also find it funny and not be offended."

The attached photo -- a brilliant piece of photoshopping, since we never stood head to head like this, dressed as rival Unreliable Tour Guides; Vincent was in his guard uniform every time I saw him -- was entitled Whitney museum security guard (Fake-mus) with Momus and captioned "PLEASE! PLEASE! (Sorry Fake-mus, there's only room for one of us)".



"Someone from the Whitney gave me an article from your blog about the "Kate Moss is not black"," Mr Punch continued, "which I find very interesting and timely, so I'm sending a copy of the piece I put in our staff art show. Thanks again for the horn, it's one of my prized possessions."

Writing back to ask Vincent's permission to run the photo on Click Opera, I said: "It looks like we're really going head to head in a sound system clash or something! It's interesting also that you relate it to the Kate Moss is not black article, because that's really making a case for travesty sometimes being a respectful or affectionate act, and here I really feel the Unreliable Tour Guide is being travestied with affection.

Thanks so much!

Nick (ex-Unreliable Tour Guide)"

Comments

[bifteck.livejournal.com]

That's lovely! I think it's perfectly wonderful that they have a staff art show, and that security guards are encouraged to participate.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

The security people at the Whitney are really great people -- many of the guards are artists, or poets. I mentioned Claude McKay Jnr (http://imomus.livejournal.com/198627.html) before, nephew of the Harlem Renaissance poet Claude McKay, and a poet like his uncle.

THANKS! THANKS! THANKS!

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you very much Momus, for your high praises and regards for the Whitney Museum's security guards who still think that you were the "BEST" artist of Whitney's 2006 biennial. It cannot be said enough what a difference it makes to us when celebrities like yourself take time to stop,look and listen to what the ordinary people have to say or do. Everyone is excited about this.
So on behalf of the Security staff, I would like to thank you for your respect and for lending a great voice for the ordinary people.
Thanks Momus

Vincent Punch.