The Cosmic Giggle
by Ken Mayer
One of the things dreamt of in my philosophy is the Great Cosmic Giggle. It’s sort of a diminutive form of joy that can happen anywhere, any time and often takes me by surprise. Unlike the big celebratory events or occasions, the cosmic giggle is part of the everyday fabric of living a quality life. It can be a kid’s silly observation, a smell that reminds me of grandma’s kitchen or the “feel” of a green space turning color in autumn.
Most often, for me anyway, it’s music; the elegant lightness of Mozart or the poetic orderliness of Bach. When music comes as a surprise, outside, in a public space, the cosmic giggle often materializes, and I can’t help but smile.
Walking around the Old Market a while back, I heard pure musical tones and tunes wafting through the air. It sounded vaguely familiar, so I turned and headed toward the sound. Sure enough, it was Jamey Turner playing his glass harmonica on the corner of 11th and Howard, and the cosmic giggle was paying me a visit.
I had seen Turner perform at an Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra concert some years ago playing a Mozart concerto written for his unusual instrument. Here on the sidewalk he was amusing and amazing young and old alike with popular music, folk tunes and familiar classical pieces. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him work. You can get a sense of the scene by watching this You Tube video of Jamey. Note how Jamey has engaged the bystanders by getting them to play the bass parts.
Artist Jamie Burmeister must have been channeling the cosmic giggle when he created his O! Public Art sculpture now on view at the Omaha Children’s Museum.
Burmeister created an interactive sound sculpture on his O! using tuned chimes and bars controlled by a small computer. When someone sits on the chair within the O!, fragments of songs about Omaha play, including “Omaha” by Fritz Al Carlson, “I Want to Grow with Growing Omaha” by Albert Adair; “Omaha Blues” by Big Joe Williams, “Omaha” by Counting Crows, “Omaha Stylee” by 311, and “Omaha Flash” by Johnny Otis. Video artist Todd Pospichal has created a charming short of the O! in action.
It seems to me that sculptures like Burmiester’s O! represent a sort of missing link in public art. More than just visual, it suits today’s media savvy public by being musical and interactive as well. We ought to see more projects of this type.
For example, Joseph Bertolozzi, a composer and musician, has embarked on a giant public space music project near Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge.
Bertolozzi plans to compose a piece for, and play, the bridge itself using a host of percussionists. The project will culminate with public performances in 2009 commemorating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s trip up the river. See more about his project here.
Who knows, one of these days, maybe we will all gather on Lewis and Clark Landing and listen to a Concerto for Pedestrian Bridge. I think the Great Cosmic Giggle might be there, too.
