Reincarnated from Erni Bär, Germany--Dieter Roth: My life as Camenbert (the Fragrant Period)

[Bifidus Jones]

In an effort to honor the late Dieter Roth, whose opening exhibit in the U.S. consisted of nearly 40 suitcases of rotting cheese, Erni sent me Camembert which arrived the other day. The post office shrouded it in plastic due to the stench, I imagine. I invited friends and family to the grand opening.

Then it was time to assemble the exhibit with the help of an audience member:

Due to the rainy weather, or perhaps cowardliness, only two people showed up for the opening reception.

I am hopeful however, and have left the binoculars case and cheese on the table outside my house near the public sidewalk. I plan to take photographs regularly to document the decomposition of the exhibit or until city officials hand me a citation to clear it away. Lincoln Avenue may never be the same. Flies are already using the cheese as a breeding ground...

[Bifidus Jones]

Due to the volatile nature of Erni's mail art, closing ceremonies were held today for the Dieter Roth Staple Cheese Exhibit:

The Staple Cheese was buried today in my garden beneath the Korean Spice bush. Maybe I'll dig it up a year from now to see what it looks like. Here is a final list of signatures belonging to the beings brave and curious enough to enlighten themselves by stopping by the exhibit:

Thank you Herr Erni for this fantastic, mind-blowing opportunity. I'll close now with some words by the late, great Dieter Roth:

"I'm not going to let anybody tell me not to be unmoral. Why shouldn't we be pigs? Why shouldn't I experience the fall? Why shouldn't I be allowed to express it, why shouldn't I be silly? It's all in the context of so-called art so it doesn't hurt anybody."

[DKeys]

That's sad but true Erni, plastics make it possible. I bet pre-911 I could have sent the cheese no problem. Glad it formed a kind of enclosed garbage hothouse Bifidus.

[Bifidus Jones]

Sometimes postal regulations are no fun. no fun at all, but they are for the good of the whole, young lady.  I do like the garbage. The plastic bag it's in is all fogged up, giving it a fine symbolic social commentary...

[DKeys]

My daughter just looked at the maggot flavored cheese pic and said "Is that art?" sums it all up. Bifidus, I tried to send the spray cheese sans packaging. It had all the stamps on it and everything, but to be safe, I called the PO to make sure I could send it. The lady was stunned and annoyed when she had to repeat, "You want to send spray cheese?" Turns out because it is an aerosol can I was not allowed to send it naked. I didn't want to end up on the evening news as having tried to send a suspicious can of cheese. But the lid is securely glued on for that reason. Hope you like the garbage-it is hand picked from my house to yours. Thanks for adding it to the display-it pales in comparison to Erni's maggot food, but then that was the point

[Bifidus Jones]

Thanks for the link, Erni. Anyone who doesn't have plans for dinner tonight, come on over to the Jones soiree. I'll be serving wine, bread and a rare, aged Camembert. Poetry recited upon request.

[Bifidus Jones]

Maggots make their debut in the Dieter Roth Staple Cheese Exhibit:

they are the same color and texture of the cheese--how poetic is that?!--but if you look closely you can see them in the center of the photo. Diane Keys' [late] entry--one can o' cheese spray and one bag o' crap:

My niece from Singapore bravely looked on, and by the tears in her eyes I could see how overwhelmed with pride she was and I think she has come to appreciate what a unique asset I am to the family.

 

 

 

 

 

[DKeys]

I hope you do-mail is usually so fast. The exhibit turned Dali

[Bifidus Jones]

Erni, yes, I think the cheese has slipped to the ground but something keeps licking it up. I cannot express in words the stench. I have to stand from a distance and use the zoom lens on my camera. Diane, haven't received anything yet. hopefully today?!

[DKeys]

Bifidus, I don't know if you've received it yet, but I sent you an addition to the exhibit

[Bifidus Jones]

LET us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats	5
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question …	10
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit.   From the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot