Public Artwork
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
Artwork creator(s):
Curreri, Chris
Text author(s):
Presley, Elvis
Collaborator(s):
Cooperation with residents of Baldwin Street, Toronto
Installation year:
2006
Remarks on location:
South side of Baldwin Street, between Beverly (West) and McCaul (East) Streets. Installed in the windows of buildings.
Description:
Neon writing placed in windows of houses or shops.
Text of the artwork:
FORGET ME NEVER
IF YOU LOVE ME LET ME KNOW
LET ME BE THERE
LET ME BE YOUR TEDDY BEAR
PLEASE DON’T STOP LOVING ME
THERE'S ALWAYS ME
TREAT ME NICE
Artwork theme:
Love, desire, romance
History:
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, Toronto, ON, Saturday, September 30 to the morning of October 1, 2006
Event date(s):
2006 Note(s):
The inspiration for Curreri's (LET ME BE YOUR) TEDDY BEAR is a found scrapbook, seemingly created by a young Elvis Presley fan, full of lovingly collaged Elvis images.
The charm of Toronto's Baldwin Street life, with its mix of small businesses and private residences, has uniquely personal feel effusing a sense of people's lives rather than being overwhelmed by commerce or consuming. Through an installation of sweet messages, in collaboration with the residents of Baldwin Street, artist Chris Curreri captured a sense of the personal while recognizing the commercial aspects of the area. Viewed only from the street, as one walked along Baldwin, passersby were treated to a neon love poem glowing from above. All Elvis Presley song titles, the glowing text anonymously announced itself from the second floor windows of Baldwin Street residential homes. The signs declared a kind of romantic longing for all its viewers, but remained unreachable, inanimate, and incapable of receiving response.
Source: Scotiablank Nuit Blanche 2006 (2006).
http://www.ccca.ca/nuitblanche/nuitblanche2006/artists/b2.html
Artist's biography:
Chris Curreri Document(s):
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