OK - I just peeked in for the first time today -- does anyone know why the change over wasn't on the hour? The cherry picker was delivering Henry_P (the white statue) at 3:15. The changeover has always been right on time but this was 15 minutes late??

And the next change over was on time so white statue was only up there 45 mins . . .

This gal is a hoot. She and her cast members down on the ground (sitting at a formally set table) are representing Tr Square pigeons. They've drawn a huge crowd.

Today has been the best day so far. I was periodically checking in and I was treated to a completely naked man. As a stay at home mom that's not something I usually get to see at 10:45 am.

The bird lady up there right now (4 - 5pm) may be my favorite.

Ha, BKP.

I like her, too. The subplot at the base is a nice touch.

walkinaround, I have a narrower notion of art than the current thought, so I think of it as theater instead. As a portrait of the UK I think it's just fine.

Agree that visually a less elevated and netless stage would be more effective, but the rotating statue history of fourth plinth is part of the fascination.

I saw so many persons of so many colors (may I phrase it like that without getting blasted?) in London during a recent trip that I do have to wonder at the overall caucasianness of the plinthers.

That's an interesting observation stokebailey. I hadn't noticed, but now that you point it out . . . I checked wikipedia for population statistics. London does seem to have so much more diversity than other parts of the UK.

U.K.
92.1% White
4.0% South Asian
2.0% Black
1.2% Mixed
0.4% Chinese
0.4% Other

London
63% White
5% Mixed
15% South Asian
13% Black
4% East Asian or Other

The participants are partly chosen based on geographical location so that all the regions are represented. I guess that selection process is responsible for what may seem to be a lack of diversity.

Thanks for those stats, BKP. I had wondered about the %s in London. I loved the mix there.

In the US, if there's a photo on the cover of a Girl Scout brochure or something, or maybe promotional material for a college, they are careful to include people of Asian, African, etc background. Conscious about appearance of diversity.

Speaking of the safety net, I wonder whether anyone's tried crawling out on it yet.

>>I guess that selection process is responsible for what may seem to be a lack of diversity<<

It could also be that the whole exercise has been, for whatever reason, unattractive to ethnic minorities.

That, too, surely. You'd have to feel vulnerable up there no matter what.

Go to any Art Gallery in Britain - not many non-whites. Ditto theatre, ballet etc.

This was promoted as an artistic project and as such only people who take an interest already in such things wuld have seen it (it is only covered on Sky Arts channel here).

So in essence the ethnic monorities didn't know about it in the first place.

They certainly know how to get on X Factor, Pop Idol, Britain's Got Talent etc, so maybe it's just a question of perception of the event.

Warning......potential for plumbers butt avert your eyes!!

there is something very sweet and poignant about thoe heart-shaped messages floating down to the square.

just how many shirts is this guy wearing? I must stop drinking wine and go to bed!

oh bother-no one else is up and I am talking to myself- good night all!

I think lilacbonzai yesterday set the standard to which others must aspire. Excellent music selection, too.

Anyone who misses kindergarten will get a kick out of the woman up there now.

I must tear myself away from this, repeat, I must tear myself away from this. Productivity in the rest of my life has gone to nothing. I must tear myself away from this.

But lilacbonzai was seriously amazing.

cynthia -- there must be a plinthers anonymous group! The worst part is if I check in any time after 45 minutes past the hour I have to keep watching to see the transition and then of course I have to give the new plinther a few minutes . . .

This aussie had about 100 people doing the Charleston and now they are jitterbugging/swinging . . . .