January 29, 2011

At the Under-the-Table Café...

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... come on! I dare you to say anything you think!

***

Photographs by Meade at the Milwaukee Art Museum today. The sculpture — called "Under the Table" — is by Robert Therrien.

68 comments:

Bob W. said...

Althouse cannot carry the ring, she's just a hobbit!

woof said...

My name is Edith Ann and I'm 5 years old.

Irene said...

Were I standing there, I would think I understood how my dogs feel at dinner time.

The Crack Emcee said...

Is my gum still down there?

wv: "gesnot" - which answers my question!

traditionalguy said...

But I thought Paul Bunyan was from over in Minnesota. Just watch out for Blue Ox droppings

Ann Althouse said...

"Is my gum still down there?"

Ha ha. That's pretty much what Meade said.

WestVirginiaRebel said...

Fi Fi Fo Fum, I smell the blood of an Althouse!

Trooper York said...

Jeeze they say you start to shrink after menopause but that seems a little over the top. Just sayn'

Trooper York said...

Wait was that mean but funny?

Big Mike said...

If you see Lily Tomlin, be sure to say hi.

SteveR said...

The question is did someone drink you there?

woof said...

lilliputiann

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Wait was that mean but funny?

Trooper always bringing something to the table ;)

David said...

Stomp!

Trooper York said...

Is that joint in Wisconsin?

Maybe you can get some From Under Cheese.

ken in tx said...

I remember this from when I was a kid. I would love to walk under a table without ducking.

woof said...

I *am* big. It's the *pictures* that got small.

Anonymous said...

"EAT ME." "DRINK ME."

WestVirginiaRebel said...

Althouse: "I shrink, therefore I am."

Automatic_Wing said...

Let's get small.

Unknown said...

You're a saint.

Just not Martha.

From our last exciting episode...

Ann Althouse said...

"'I'm more the serene, contemplative type'

You sound like Saint Martha."

I don't get that. My understanding of Martha is that she's the one that wanted Mary to help with the housework and Jesus told her that Mary had made the better choice in sitting and listening to him. How is Martha the contemplative one? Seems like it's the other way around.

You're right, but that was in Bethany where they first met Christ. I think the assessment is based on their later lives after conversion. One lived in a cave in France and one evangelized. Can't remember which (this was from Theology class at Villanova 40 years ago; tried to look it up online, but couldn't find anything), but, somehow, Martha stuck with me as the contemplative one.


Finally found the story - had to go to a Catholic site. I was right about the metaphor being applied to the later part of their lives, but Ann's instincts about character were on the money; she also remembered her Scripture (I had to have my memory refreshed).

According to Church tradition, both sisters went to France to evangelize the people, but it was Martha who devoted her life to it and was used as the model for Catholic women who embraced the wider world.

Magdalene eventually retreated to a cave and became the model for the contemplative life. I had said I was a little wary of mentioning this because of Magdalene's - reputation since I didn't want Ann to think I was casting aspersions.

So Ann was more right than I was and I'll give props to her.

PS You look absolutely adorable in those shots.

Trooper York said...

There is this guy who walks into a bar and notices a man 12 inches tall playing the piano. He asks what it is all about and the bartender tells him he'll tell him later.

So he asks the barman for a drink and the bartender says,
'Before you get your drink you get to rub the magic beer bottle and make a wish.'

'OK,' says the guy.

He goes to the bottle and rubs it and, boom, out comes a genie, who says,
'You have one wish.'

The man thinks about it and then wishes for a million bucks. A cloud of smoke fills the room and when the smoke clears there are a million ducks crowding the bar.

He tells the bartender,
'Hey, I didn't want a million ducks.'

The bartender replies, 'You think I wanted a 12-inch pianist?'

Fred4Pres said...

That is freaky.

Anonymous said...

Years ago, the Field Museum in Chicago had a "Size" exhibit that looked a lot like that - an ordinary table and chair greatly expanded in size, so the average adult would be in the position of a two-year-old in dealing with it.

Not *quite* as big as the one at the MAM - you could scramble up onto the chair - but pretty startling nonetheless. I wonder what ever became of it ...

Trooper York said...

I thought most of the under the table stuff happened in Chicago not Milwaukee?

Anonymous said...

Were you screaming for Concepción?

...or for marijuana pizza?

...or for The Sartorialist to magically show up in the Midwest and take y'er picture, transfixed as he would certainly be by that green handbag.

Ron said...

This is clearly a call back to Althouse's undergrad days...she's longing to return to The Big House....

Lyssa said...

My first thought was: Hey, that's cool, look at Althouse!

Then I thought: It's just a giant table and chair, how is that art? It's stupid.

Then I thought: She looks so cute and funny and wee there! It's really, really cool!

I don't understand art.

But I think Anne B's exhibit sounds better- it would be more shocking to the conscience to recall a feeling that you had had as a toddler and long forgotten than a feeling that you would never have had (unless you were previously a mouse).

- Lyssa

Anonymous said...

"..I was continuing to shrink, to become... what? The infinitesimal? What was I? Still a human being? Or was I the man of the future? If there were other bursts of radiation, other clouds drifting across seas and continents, would other beings follow me into this vast new world? So close - the infinitesimal and the infinite. But suddenly, I knew they were really the two ends of the same concept. The unbelievably small and the unbelievably vast eventually meet - like the closing of a gigantic circle. I looked up, as if somehow I would grasp the heavens. The universe, worlds beyond number, God's silver tapestry spread across the night. And in that moment, I knew the answer to the riddle of the infinite. I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension. I had presumed upon nature. That existence begins and ends in man's conception, not nature's. And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist! "

The Incredible Shrinking Man 1957

Heather said...

Ann, you should never follow white rabbits with pocket watches.

traditionalguy said...

That dress looks great on you, but where did you go to find Petit-petit sizes?

ken in tx said...

Thinking about being small enough to walk under a table reminded me of something else. When I was about three, I had my first haircut. I screamed the whole time. This was before electric clippers, it was hand held clippers. Later I remember, the barber, Mr. Grey had a pretty daughter named Linda Grey. I claimed her as my girl friend at about age 5. This was in Parish Alabama. I have always loved pretty girls.

Ambrose said...

Honey, I shrunk the blogger.

woof said...

Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
`Round here

Short people are just the same
As you and I
(A fool such as I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's a wonderful world)

Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
'Round here

chuck said...

No giant dog?

Rumpletweezer said...

You took Steve Martin's advice.

KCFleming said...

At first glance, I thought you had done some of the lamest photoshopping evar.

Drew Cloutier said...

Under the table and dreaming

Peano said...

Reminds me of Monica Lewinsky. Seems like only yesterday, she was crawling around under the table putting everything in her mouth.

David said...

Good joke, Trooper.

sunsong said...

How fun!!

Chase said...

`




I dare you to say anything you think!


Bought my first Smartphone - Blackberry torch,

Piece of SHIT


37 minutes on phone with some fucking Pakistani asshole who couldn't help me open up an app.



Research In Motion, burn in hell. You are a pain in the ass.

JAL said...

You look cute.

wv togabush
What woud you look like in a toga under a bush?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Is it true that a security guy got fired because he suggested that "piece" would make great firewood someday?

Quaestor said...

The management of the Milwaukee Art Museum ought to be ashamed. That is not art and Therrien is not an artist. He just made some props for a remake of Attack of the Puppet People

Anonymous said...

If that was art, the furniture gallery down the street could charge admission. They have tables and chairs in all shapes and sizes. This piker just depicted the Walmart $129.96 special for people living on Pluto. Probably with a sizable chuck of taxpayer dollars.

Wince said...

It's gonna get pretty crowded there, "under the table," especially if the new IRS Form 1099 requirement in Obamacare is not repealed.

Clyde said...

All the good, obvious comments have already been made. I was thinking "beanstalk" myself.

Mr. Bingley said...

I love a good martini
But only two at the most
After three I'm under the table
After four I'm under the host

- Dorothy Parker

I'm Full of Soup said...

Peano came the closest but I am surprised no one has said "Hey while you are down there, how about...."

sonicfrog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sonicfrog said...

♫ Galaxy Glue, Galaxy Glue, what would we do without Galaxy Glue.... ♫

sonicfrog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sonicfrog said...

♫... Hold me closer tiny Ann-cer... ♫

sonicfrog said...

Drudge Headline:

Dirty Blog Secret Revealed! - Althouse paid under table to be Limbaugh lackey!

(source: WND)

sonicfrog said...

Unlike her larger counterpart, who finally found happiness, Little Anne is still looking for her Mini-Meade!

Ver Word: DRUGS!!!!!!!

sonicfrog said...

Needless to say, her carbon footprint is tiny in comparison to Al Gore's....

sonicfrog said...

Huh... Ann Althouse was an affirmative action hire... Who knew????

sonicfrog said...

I'm not saying I'm short or anything... But, Ann, at least now you understand just a little what life is like for me....

Dust Bunny Queen said...

One pill makes you larger...one pill makes you small.

loudogblog said...

It reminds me of The Land of the Giants,

Peter Hoh said...

We had these in college. They were called lofts.

Leland said...

I actually like that piece. It is the type of art that I appreciate for giving you a different perspective. It's a view most of us haven't seen since we were toddlers, if we even remember it. It's a perspective our pets routinely have. It really does make you think of things from a different reality.

Thanks for sharing.

Freeman Hunt said...

How did he make it look like it was made of giant boards? What does it look like close up?

Methadras said...

What a waste of wood.

The Elder said...

Think of it as seeing the world from Sacha's point of view.

Anonymous said...

Fee-fi-fo-fum
I smell, barely see desert tonight
O delight, even if they must bleed
It will be Althouse ala Meade

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