The Garden files 04 - sand sculpture
It is a coinkedink that today is the day I am posting about this sculpture. The first day of 2024 and I want to wish you all a happy new year. But that isn't the coincidence. It is that today was the day that Disney finally lost their stranglehold on Mickey Mouse. Today is the day that some of their intellectual copyright goes into the public domain.
After nearly a century of the big corporation living off the talents of their founding father, we can now do what we want with the original design of Mickey Mouse, as he appears in their first released animation called Steamboat Willie.
A company named Sue
I've had my own run-ins with Disney before when I have paid homage to their characters and my clients have received desist letters
and although I can see their point about protecting their IP I sometimes find it too aggressive and harmful to their brand. When they shut down fans and anyone doing anything with their image. Especially when they have bribed politicians for years to change laws in their favour I don't think it has been the win for their company that they think it was. I am a big supporter of the public domain and open-source and without going into too much detail I am glad this day has come and look forward to what people create using what Walt has drawn. I am sure it will probably even benefit Disney itself.
Sand sculpture homage © Disney
This is another sculpture I made in my friend's garden for his young children. Made in 2012, It was using the later designs and drawings of Mickey and Mini Mouse I just hope Disney doesn't come after me or the Hive Blockchain to try and sue. If they do they can send a letter to The head of The Legal department, Hive blockchain, The internet. Po box. 69.
It was a simple enough piece that took two days of preparing and carving and did exactly what it was meant to do, make the children happy.
Some interesting things about Mickey Mouse
Apart from the fact he is Disney's biggest brand image, he is also a pain in the arse to carve because he can not be easily translated into the 3rd dimension. He is a drawing and his ears are always facing sideways so it is difficult to work out where to put them on his head. Also, his head is very big and needs support to hold it up. Luckily I had Mini for that.
Another little fact is that he was born in 1928, the same year as my father.
My family had to give my father up in 2015. RIP.
Aww that's cute ^_^
I had to giggle about the ears thing as I remember my kids watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse when they were tiny and I noted that Mickey's ears always rotated around his head so they always fit that profile XD
It is one of the reasons I hate making art based on someone else's flat art. Things just don't translate to the 3rd dimension that easily.
Definitely not if you're trying to make a faithful recreation. Sometimes near enough is good enough x_x
True, at least then you can bring some of yourself to the creation.
An amazing sculpture, per usual, and I love that now people may 'have at' micky's first iteration. I've never liked Disney, I know it is not a popular opinion, lol, but even as a child I always felt repelled for some reason? I'll be curious to see what art arises this year from 'first year' Mickey.
Thanks Donna, I've never been a big fan either maybe it is the saccharin sweetness and reused archetypes of the characters but I like Pixar which they bought. They seem to be buying everything other people's creativity and are now happy to let their old stuff go.
Truly amazing works of art, all are inspirational. Thanks for sharing this incredible artwork!
Thank you very much. I hope you are healing well and have a great new year.
Excelente trabajo buena idea trabajar con la arena siempre trabaje con madera y cerámica y el metal pero lamentablemente me robaron mis herramientas y ahora es muy costoso conseguir con los precios muy elevado en Venezuela y saludo por tomarme en cuenta amigo mio desde cumana estado sucre ramaco.