The following
photograph-rich article is about mermaid artworks and artifacts
found in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York from the viewpoint of
visual anthropology and cryptozoology.
All photographs
featured here were taken by Takeshi Yamada. Yamada is one of the
most active artists in New York City and has had over 400 fine
art exhibitions internationally. This manuscript was produced by
Dr. Eriko N. Bond, an active art critic and author in New York
City, as told by Takeshi Yamada.
MERMAIDS IN CONEY ISLAND
Article by Takeshi Yamada and Dr. Eriko N. Bond
Part 3
Graphic Illustrations & Commercial Paintings
In contrast to the
small number of three-dimensional mermaids, there are many
two-dimensional mermaids that can be seen all over Coney Island,
Brooklyn, New York.
A young blue-haired
mermaid with hot dog (the hot dog originated in Coney Island)
trapped in a bottle. Painted by local artists on a carry-out
place on the boardwalk by Stillwell Avenue. (August 20, 2007)
Mermaid drink on the
exterior wall of the restaurant/bar at the corner of Stillwell
Avenue and boardwalk. (August 18, 2007)
Detail of store sign
by a local artist. Hawaiian mermaid on a hamburger/clamshell
with prince seahorse at the end of the rainbow. She appears to
be choosing the hotdog from the monkey-God rather than the
bouquet of roses from His Majesty’s clown. Reason (pentagon of
Pythagorus) over feeling (heart). Astroland Amusement Park
(September 1, 2007)
Detail of store sign
by local artist. The Sea Monk as king of the world meditates
that our world is a conch shell. Astroland Amusement Park
(September 1, 2007)
Detail of store sign
by local artist. The Gyojin--the mythic creature with upper body
of a fish and lower body of a human--is not as advanced as the
Sea Horse as it lacks the wisdom of the beloved servant of the
Poseidon. In either case, they both love Coney Island-originated
frozen custard in summer.! Astroland Amusement Park (September
1, 2007)
Detail of the
photo-T-shirt Store’s sign by a local artist. Astroland
Amusement Park (September 2, 2007)
A pair of duck-faced
fish by local artists. They resemble the Japanese Shachihoko
(mythic giant tiger-head carp which guards the samurai lord’s
castle). Astroland Amusement Park (September 2, 2007)
The mermaid
lifeguard is Queen of the Sea. Detail of store sign by local
artist. Astroland Amusement Park (September 1, 2007)
The mermaid at the
“Ring Toss”. Astroland amusement Park (September 1, 2007)
A mural of
human-faced fish. They are not normal mermaids but they are
Takeshi Yamada’s favorite human-faced sea monsters seen at the
kiddie park area of the Astroland Amusement Park. (August, 2006)
Takeshi Yamada, Sea
Rabbit (“Seara”), and three human-faced Fish. Astroland
Amusement Park. (September 1, 2007)
Takeshi Yamada, Sea
Rabbit (“Seara”), and two exotic mermaids on the boardwalk.
(September 2, 2007)
(Continue to Part 4)
Copyright by Takeshi Yamada, Museum of World Wonders in Coney
Island, Brooklyn, New York, October 2007. Revised in March 2008.
All Rights Reserved.
E-mail: yamada108@aol.com
Special thanks to Dr. Eriko N. Bond, Lauren D. Travis, Maremi
Kakushina, and
Abraham Morris.
Also
special thanks to Kris Roth (Senior Proofreader)
http://www.sideshowworld.com/SSA-15.html
http://www.roguetaxidermy.com/members_detail.php?id=528
http://www.horseshoecrab.org/poem/feature/takeshi.html
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/events/exhibitions/other/worldwonders.jsp
