I did it first!
In London in 1997, life-sized plaster noses appeared all over London affixed to walls. They arrived without explanation or credit and, human beings being human beings, legends began to spring up around them.
They were all wrong. It wasn’t until 2011 that an artist named Rick Buckley took credit. They were all casts of his substantial hooter and they were placed directly beneath CCTV cameras. To protest CCTV cameras. You’d think someone would have noticed.
As it happens, way back in 1978, when I were in art school, I discovered an annoying fact. I wanted to learn real art skills – painting and sculpting and so on – and my teachers were all into thinky performance art. The only common ground I could find was surreal art: they’d let me do representational things if they were absurd.
I did a series of cartoons featuring a life-sized plasticine version of my own substantial nose. I really don’t remember anything about it except that I finished the project and had these…noses left over.
So I stuck them on things. As you do. And I don’t remember anything more about that except my fellow students were surprisingly tolerant of them and it was some time before the last one was stolen or destroyed.
I understand some of Buckley’s noses are still out there.
Posted: July 2nd, 2026 under personal.
Comments: 6
Comments
Comment from Deborah HH
Time: July 2, 2026, 8:43 pm
I once was so charmed by Fairy Doors, that I considered creating them myself. Only I couldn’t. I can’t stand doing crafty things. Unless the craft is useful, like knitted socks and crocheted blankets, or days-of-the-week kittens embroidered on cup towels.
But I would definitely stick a well-made nose in some odd place in my house. I have a four door junction in my house with a lot of narrow walls.
Comment from ExpressoBold Pureblood
Time: July 2, 2026, 9:05 pm
It’s hot!
103ºF on the 3rd floor deck at the EBP* abode.
*ExpressoBold Pureblood
Comment from QuasiModo
Time: July 2, 2026, 9:40 pm
Nobody knows noses like a Kleenex 🙂
Comment from Ben
Time: July 2, 2026, 9:45 pm
Woo-Hoo, ten day weekend!
Comment from Uncle AL
Time: July 2, 2026, 10:19 pm
If those noses had turned up (!) in my old stompin’ grounds I’d have been really tempted to adorn them with little rubber cement fake boogers. I’d like to think I wouldn’t have actually done it, but it would have taken at least a little effort to resist the urge.
Comment from Rich Rostrom
Time: July 3, 2026, 9:09 pm
How about”The Many Noses of Orson Welles“?
He had dozens.
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