Blog
The Kensington Bass
Tuesday 16 August 2005
From time to time, the four of us in this house get together with a friend or two for coffee or dinner and talk about Stuff - tonight it was a long conversation about spirituality and purpose and big things like that. Afterward, we wandered up Augusta St into Kensington Market, and sat for a while in Bellevue Square Park, chatting and watching the action: two rambunctious dogs, a grizzled guy with a staff who seemed to be putting hexes on people…
And then I looked up at the light standard next to our picnic bench, and saw that it had strings.
Someone had drilled holes in the aluminum pole, bolted on a makeshift bridge, and strung it like an upright bass. Above the nut (if it can be called that) was inscribed “The Kensington Bass”, and below, the artist’s name (though I understand he’s a bit secretive about it now). It was tunable, and in pretty good tune. It’s been there, according to the inscription, since June. I amused myself playing all the Soul Coughing songs I could remember. A bit hard to play for my hands, used to playing electric… but still, how delightful!
Comments
Once Again….....grace&harbord; n/w corner on the halfpipe for the pushbutton for crossing: “The Garrison Creek Installation (PARK BASS 3 @linux cafe, soon to be solar/bluetooth),{Taddle Creek Installation 2},{Russell Creek Installation 1 “Kensington Bass”}This was the most Intense public install I have done yet! I have never faced such a wide range of public,police,& pass by eyes drilling me as I drilled the pole….Unlike usuallly where"It’s got to be the going and not the getting there” I pushed myself to finish ASAP because the growing awareness of my attending to something? at this pole felt like it was starting to cause problems for area residents.Done! Ha! rgb.
Posted by richard bishop "RGB" on 4 May 2007 at 6:22 AM
re the bass installation in philo-walk…or ‘play’ it a visit, so to speak!
-j
Posted by jamie on 5 August 2007 at 6:07 PM
Mr. kensington bass is where it’s at, you can find another bass on a pole west of the market, just across grace from linux cafe on the north side of harbord…begging to be played, and maybe even tuned up a bit!
J
Posted by Jamie on 12 February 2009 at 3:19 AM
happy to have served.(RGB..the “park bass installer”)P.S. the 2nd bass is at UofT on philosophers walk! 10 more to go….Ha!
Posted by richard bishop on 27 June 2006 at 9:54 AM