s.a. griffin | how to build a poetry bomb

TheCarmabum — 20. April 2010 — A short film chronicling the process of Elsie The Poetry Bomb, from former U.S. military practice bomb, to poetry bomb. The Poetry Bomb has been filled with poetry from around the world, thus, Poetry Bomb.Purchased the piece on Craigslist, November 4, 2009 from Robert Demott.After much research and many phone calls, I contacted my pal Randy Montano who agreed to help me cut the inert ordinance open. (And kids, please don’t try this at home!) As you can see, along the way I enlisted the help of a number of artists and friends who work in metal, very fine artists and great friends. Mark Ortiz finally got it completely opened, removed the insides and then completed the heavy metal work welding it back together. My pal Averell Eshaghian took it the next step with me by prepping the piece for paint with bondo, sanding. Averell also helped to put the fine touches on the plexiglass hatch. Together he and I came up with the idea for the “Mobius Hatch”, one of my favorite design features. The paint was done by 1 Day Auto Body, and the world class pinstriping by Skratch, completed March 19, 2010.

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April 1, 2010 Elsie made her (unstuffed) debut at Skylight Books in Los Angeles, CA. Frank T. Rios burned the poem and performed the invocation, sending Elsie off into the great big world to do her thing to hopefully throw a little light into a dark world in service of the muse.

April 3, 2010 was Elsie’s (stuffed) debut at pLAyLAnd in Echo Park, CA where you see LoboMojo reading his piece from inside the Poetry Bomb. The mother and child are Sarah and Zarah Eshaghian, Averell’s wife and daughter.

War, and artifacts of war were invented to create and enforce agreements. Elsie was created to foster disagreements, the true cornerstone of our democratic way of life. Without dissent or disagreements, democracy is not possible.

Elsie has been stuffed with poetry from around the world and will be going on tour around the United States, leaving Los Angeles on April 28, 2010.

You can find more information about The Poetry Bomb at the Facebook fan page.

This all was made possible by the tremendous generosity and kindness of many, many people. Thank you all so very much!! And of course, I could not have done any of it without the unconditional love and support of my wife, Lorraine Perrotta.

The Poetry Bomb Couch Surfing Across America Tour of Words 2010.

The Poetry Bomb loves you.

0 Replies to “s.a. griffin | how to build a poetry bomb”

  1. Wonderful to see the video of the making of the Poetry Bomb! I was so delighted that Elsie’s path included Nashville as she toured across the nation!

    S.A. Griffin, I’d like to offer you and all those involved 1,000,000 thanks. It was wonderful to meet you and I am honored to have been caught in the winds that blew you in this direction!

    Congratulations on this wonderful endeavor and best wishes for the creative ideas that will surely follow this one.

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