Topsy Memorial Design Competition
Background Topsy was a circus elephant who was put into service at Coney Island’s Luna Park at the turn of the last century. She was not a happy elephant: in the course of repeated abuse, Topsy ended up killing three people. When the Luna Park management decided to execute the troublesome pachyderm, Thomas Edison stepped in. Edison was engaged in a publicity war with Westinghouse, whose electricity – Edison claimed – was far deadlier than his. Edison decided to demonstrate his point by electrocuting Topsy with Westinghouse’s alternating current. In January 1903, Topsy was fed cyanide-laced carrots, strapped into copper-lined sandals, and killed in front of 1500 spectators. More details on Topsy’s fate can be found at Roadside America. A Call for Submissions All artists are invited to participate in the Topsy Memorial Design Competition. The memorial will be installed at a site in Coney Island in the spring of 2003 and inaugurated with a ceremony of elephantastic proportions. An Artistic Commemoration In collaboration with the artist Gavin Heck, Ars Subterranea will install a memorial to the elephant in the spring of 2003. The occasion is the 100 year anniversary of Topsy’s electrocution. The memorial will be financed by a fundraising party, donations, and the application fees. Additionally, we will be collecting donations for a charity focusing on elephant care. Topsy’s electrocution is not merely a fascinating, albeit tragic, chapter in Coney Island history. Here at Ars Subterranea we are also interested in the character of Thomas Edison (a looming figure in the history of subterranean New York) and his role in the development of the electric chair. The memorial ceremony intends to shed light on Topsy’s execution as a bizarre instance of Edison’s notable showmanship. The exact date and location of the ceremony will be announced in the near future. Also watch for the second part of the Topsy tribute during the 2003 Mermaid Parade. Memorial Specifications The deadline for design submissions is Thursday, January 24, 2003. The winning artist will receive a prize of $500 and a budget (amount to be determined) for the construction of the memorial. The winner, to be determined by a panel of seven judges, will be announced in February 2003. Related Posts: The Society for Creative Preservation