Artcars Make the Scene at Cacophony Society Film and Gallery Event
2012-02-17
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Reported By Ken Duffy
Traditionally conservative Orange County, California, was the unlikely setting for events dedicated to the the outré escapades of the Cacophony Society and its predecessor, the Suicide Club. Artcars and kindred rolling things dotted the plaza in front of the Grand Central Art Gallery in downtown Santa Ana for the February 4th events, which included the benefit screening of a new film and a gallery show.
Photo by Ken Duffy, used by permission
Filmmaker Jon Alloway, a member of the Los Angeles Cacophony Society, a major branch of the group founded in San Francisco in the 1980s, had been filming society pranks and adventures for years and is now completing his film, “Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society.” The film also features interviews with cacophonists from near and far, and footage from events in San Francisco, Portland, and elsewhere. An audience of friends and supporters filled the restored Yost Theater for the first public screening of the still-unfinished film.
Photo by Ken Duffy, used by permission
After a short panel discussion punctuated by the appearance of a fake Homeland Security representative, the assorted artists, klowns, burners, and pranksters then moved a few blocks west to the plaza for the gallery opening and a balmy evening of bizarre music and performance art.
Artcars out on the plaza included the VainVan and Candy Home trailer, from Emily Duffy (wife of this correspondent) of Northern California, and Southern California representatives the Spaced Bug, from Scott Alan, and La Locura Cura, by Amanda Jensen.
Photo by Ken Duffy, used by permission
Trailing a whiff of controversy, the Asscar by Rev. Charles Linville made the trip down from Portland, with an ass-backwards dog for a hood ornament. Both Jensen and Linville are veteran Cacophonists.
Photo by Ken Duffy, used by permission
Former L.A. Cacophony honcho Rev. Al Ridenour brought his Art of Bleeding ambulance and sexy-bloody performance crew. The legendary John Law of San Francisco, veteran of the Suicide Club and Cacophony Society, co-founder of Burning Man, participant in ArtCar Fest and countless other projects, hauled his beloved trinity of Doggie Diner heads in caravan with the Cyclecide bus. Oh yeah, then there was the dragon-pizza oven, a discotheque on wheels, and the funky ride of the hilarious Chuckles the Clown. Move along, plenty to see…
One well-known artcar missing from the scene was “5:04 PM,” by S.F. Cacophony’s Michael Michael (AKA Danger Ranger), an Oldsmobile damaged by falling bricks in the 1989 earthquake and then “finished” to preserve the massive cave-in on the back end. Recently restored, the car is currently part of a Reno exhibit of pioneering artcars that have been featured at Burning Man. 
Photo by Ken Duffy, used by permission
Several dozens of artcar artists and affiliates attended the Santa Ana events. Those without artcars included Harrod Blank (and Alicia), Kelly Lyles, Cheri Brugman, Rick McKinney, Kevin Mathieu, and CyberSam. Friends and associates included Flash Hopkins, Hal Robins, Doug Wellman, Ed Holmes, Al Honig, Phat Man Dee and Tommy Amoeba from Pittsburgh, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, representatives from Slab City art-compound East Jesus, and of course many veteran members of the Cacophony Society.
While this correspondent half-expected the gallery show to be a sort of funky afterthought to the film screening and performance events, it was a revelation how great it looked and how entertaining it was. “The Cacophony Society Zone Show” is well worth a visit to Santa Ana while the show is still up (into April).
Some links of interest:
Ken Duffy's full set of photos from the opening:
www.flickr.com/photos/ken_duffy/sets/72157629210863351/
Emily Duffy's photos from the event:
www.flickr.com/photos/emily_du/sets/72157629222230067/
For more information about the Into the Zone film:
http://www.intothezonemovie.com/
Info about the Cacophony Show at Grand Central Art Center:
http://www.grandcentralartcenter.com/ArtGallery_gcartgallery.php
An article in Laughing Squid about the Screening:
http://laughingsquid.com/cacophony-society-zone-art-show-film-screening-photos-footage/
Information about the 5:04 Car:
http://www.dangerranger.org/504PM/History.html
Artcar Nation article about the 5:04 car on Display in Reno:
http://www.artcarnation.com/pages/newsPerm.php?newsID
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