Monday, December 08, 2014

Christmas tree's roadworks-themed decorations removed

An artist was told to remove his roadworks-themed decorations from a Christmas tree in Oxfordshire.

Summertown's 18ft Norwegian pine was decorated with orange mesh, barrier fencing, red and white striped tape, and topped with a traffic cone. Entitled Elfen Safety, Oxford artist Ted Dewan said it was designed as a tribute to the city's road workers.



One local business, which sponsors the tree, called for their removal following complaints from residents. The business, which did not want to be named, said it had received several complaints and felt the decorations should come down. Mr Dewan said the theme for the tree had been an "emergency" one after he discovered the original decorations were not weatherproof.

He said he hoped people would see the "beauty beyond the humble associations with these hastily improvised materials" which cost £75, but admitted many had not. He said he would now offer them to a construction company.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's actually rather clever. I like it.

Speaking of traffic cones, one time I saw a local city utility truck that, in its overlarge front bumper, had various cutouts for towing and other functions (I would suppose). Someone had placed inverted traffic cones into the large openings at the left and right corners of the bumpers, so that when the truck came at you, it looked like it was sporting fangs. Too bad I didn't have a camera with me at the time.

Lurker111

arbroath said...

Heh heh!

I think my favourite traffic cone usage is on the statue of the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_statue_of_the_Duke_of_Wellington,_Glasgow

https://www.google.com/search?q=traffic+cone+duke+of+wellington+glasgow&biw=1584&bih=752&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Ur2FVN_IAYmBU_r5gwg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

Anonymous said...

Re: Duke of Wellington cones. Hilarious!

Good thing the pranksters didn't attempt to affix Wellingtons.

Oops. Now I've given them the idea.

Lurker111

xoxoxoBruce said...

I believe the front bumper with the holes is for a man to sit on the bumper and pick up cones as the truck moves slowly down the row.