the mighty elopus

I participated in GISHWHES again this year. From August 2nd - August 9th, Nick and were joined by teams in Southern California, Texas, Minnesota, and British Columbia. We all worked together to create a week of insanity and art.

Here are some of my favorite moments:

1) On a pool or billiards table, sink at least 4 balls with one shot. So we know it’s you doing it, wear a t-shirt displaying your GISHWHES team name. The more balls that go in, the more points.

2) You see people holding up signs from time to time that say “free hugs.” I have always been wary of those people. I don’t know what it is they’re after. Are they trying to cop a feel? Get me to buy a timeshare? I avoid them. But your “free hugs” sign won’t leave any doubt in the readers’ minds… Wearing a bathing suit, cover every inch of your exposed skin with honey, peanut butter, whipped cream, syrup or jam. Hold a sign on a busy public sidewalk that reads, “Free Hugs.” Enthusiastically attempt to recruit hug-victims.

3) Get a previously published Sci-Fi author to write an original story (140 words max) about Misha, the Queen of England and an Elopus.

                                                                VICTORIA'S SECRET

4) Create a magnificent piece of GISHWHES or Elopus-related art and have it displayed in a gallery art show. The video should show the gallery space, patrons attending the show and viewing the piece. It must be a real art gallery - not your living room attended by friends.

5) Draw a New-Yorker-style cartoon for the caption “I told them he was half-elephant!”

6) Some regions have legendary monsters like the Loch Ness Monster in Loch Ness, Scotland or the Abominable Snowman in… well, wherever that creature lurks. Catch the mystery monster on camera that haunts your hometown.

7) Suck blood from a doughnut.

8)  If you’re like me, you’re sick of the go-to barista foam-art. If I have to sip at another latte adorned with a fern or clover shape, I’m going to cry. Let’s see the Elopus professionally recreated in the foam of a café’s hot drink.

9) The messages our team got to write to each other.

10) The NSA is watching us. They’re reading our texts and emails and listening to our phone calls. The post office is just another branch of the government, so we can’t trust them either. There is really only one truly secure way to send messages these days… carrier pigeon. Using a carrier pigeon, send a GISHWHES shopping list with your team name on it from one location to another. We must see the pigeon arriving at its destination with the shopping list and see the list unfurled.

11) Use climbing gear - grappling hooks, ropes, and carabiners - to summit the mighty ascent of the sidewalk of Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde.

12) Obviously, everyone’s favorite Captain of the USS Enterprise was Jean-Luc Picard. Create a heroic Captain Picard using condiments (mustard, relish, ketchup, etc.) for paint.

13)  Go to your local animal shelter/rescue and hold a photo shoot for one of its residents. Make an adoption flyer promoting the animal using the photos you’ve taken and post them on telephone poles. Prove that your campaign was successful. (It can be multiple images photoshopped into one submission).

14) GISHWHES has taken its toll this year. You deserve a break. Hit the hot tub with a couple of friends… wearing hats made of ice cream.

And now I can cherish this photo of the BFF always.

15)  Make a children’s Pop-Up book about the CROATOAN Virus ending the world.

 

It was a very touching week.





much love,
hedgie