Saturday, May 4, 2013

Silly Saturday Sirens of the Sea

WELCOME!

Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2008
www.newyork.wikia.com

I have been having fun checking out Coney Island's historical (as in it's been going on since 1983) Annual Mermaid Parade. It is the largest Art Parade held in the USA.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade
assets.nydailynews.com

It is held every year, but this year it might not happen.
That would be sad.
Hurricane Sandy has wiped out/damaged the entire area. Just like most of the Island's businesses, the Mermaid parade admin building was severely damaged.

Hurricane Sandy 2012, Coney Island, NY
www.washingtonpost.com
yep, that's a roller coaster there in the ocean...


Coney Island, NY after Hurricane Sandy 2012
www.boston.com

after Hurricane Sandy 2012
www.brownstoner.com

This year's Mermaid Parade Budget is $100,000 short.
Zowie.

flooding after Hurricane Sandy 2012, Coney Island
www.news.ebru.tv

I think we can all see why!!

clean up after Hurricane Sandy,
Coney Island, New York, USA
www.amusingthezillion.com
photo cred: Tricia Vita

HOWEVER....
the not-for-profit corporation has existed since 1980, and they're not giving up now!! They are continuing with their purpose - "to defend the honor of American popular culture through innovative exhibitions and performances."

Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2012
www.flickr.com

a seahorse participant, Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2012
www.kellynealphoto.com
(LOVE the red shoes!!)

The Mermaid Parade of 2012
www.pigmentsky.com

I think they have the 'innovative' part down pretty good!!

Open registration starts in just a few days, and they are hoping it will be a success, with some much-needed additional corporate sponsorships.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade Dogs
(would these be called 'sea-dogs'?)

You can access their information, registration and fun facts here:

http://www.coneyisland.com/mermaid.shtml

I will say I had to sift and sort through tons of photos (google) that had nudity in them to find some for this blog. I think it's a shame that people think nudity is an accepted form of 'street art'.  There were some fantastical creative costumes, only the bare breasts were part of them and so I didn't want to use them in a family-friendly blog.
Too bad.
There were also some real WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? costume photos....

I thought this one was such a creative idea, and was PG enough to share. 
Hoo-rah for pasties.

unknown credit
note the legs!!

(I'm on my soap box now - So much of the fun and creativity has been spoiled in Halloween also as people seem to think 'costume' means bloody and/or gory and/or gross and/or as-close-to-X rated-as-you-can-get. You know, a fun & creative 'nurse' costume can be really cool without the blood to make her a 'zombie nurse'. A pair of sweat pants and a sweatshirt hoodie with a mask is not my idea of 'creativity'.  Pouring on some fake blood to make it a 'zombie' or whatever does not count as individuality either. 
Okay, off the soap box...)

Check these past parade participants out!
(say past-parade-participants 10 times in a row!!)

www.baginskicreative.com

www.nydailynews.com

Mermaid Parade, Coney Island NY 2011
mermaidsandmartinis.blogspot.com

There are many other fun things at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade.
Think 1950's kitsch and you have a pretty good idea about the food, activities, etc. The corporation also houses a Coney Island Museum that has lectures and walking tours, a Coney Island Circus sideshow and sideshow school, tourist information, community bulletin board and gift shop. They hold many different kinds of parades and activities.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade photo from web site:
www.coneyisland.com

Mermaid Parade Coney Island, NY
www.thewalrusspeaks.blogspot.com

Kind of gets me in the mood for a Mermaid Block Party....
:0)

mermaids on the beach
www.costumegirlscloset.blogspot.com

Hope you've had fun with these silly sirens of the sea...
see you next time!

inkspired
www.inkspired.etsy.com
www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com
www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com
and on pinterest: kkloberdans


Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2012

1 comment:

  1. There's a lovely picture book by Melanie Hope-Greenberg entitled, "Mermaids On Parade."

    ReplyDelete