Someone’s posing naked with Bucky statues, and seeking accomplices

In Microtones, our newsletter-first column. 

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MICROTONES by Chris Lay, associate publisher

We at Tone Madison thought we were done writing about the summer-long Bucky On Parade spectacle, but that was before the Buck_Naked_On_Parade account made its debut on Instagram. For a while the mysterious feed consisted of a single photo of a woman wearing nothing but shoes and sunglasses standing next to Visible Bucky, the anatomically themed entry from artists Philip Salamone and Sarah Gerg. The model, identified only by the letter Z, had chosen that statue, located in front of Science Hall, because, as she explained in a caption, “I am a science nerd! I love science!” A few days later a second photo popped up. “B,” a “random dude” the page’s curators claimed they met at a bar and talked into joining their project, is seen next to Goodnight Bucky, created by artist Angelica Contreras and initially placed on Picnic Point, covering his face with a hankie and his junk with his hand.

After so many months of kids and grownups alike criss-crossing the isthmus to collect selfies with all 85 of UW-Madison’s ubiquitous mascot, it was a breath of fresh air to see the whole thing being subverted by some good, not-so-clean fun.

Have the folks behind Buck_Naked_On_Parade already hit each and every one of the famous painted badgers? Sadly no, not yet at least. According to one person managing the account, who asked to remain anonymous but answered my queries over the past couple weeks, the project started back in July, and even though most of the Buckys have found new homes through a charity auction, Buck_Naked’s creators hope to recruit willing participants to disrobe next to the Buckys that remain out in public. They’ve even plotted to reach out to the current Bucky owners about accessing ones that are now, er, privately held. Talk about optimism! You don’t know until you ask, though, I suppose.

And for all I know, we may eventually get a full set of Buckys flanked by bare flesh. Maybe in due time the University of Wisconsin will even enshrine Buck_Naked_On_Parade in the school’s archives next to the collection of artifacts relating to legendary 1970s pranksters The Pail & Shovel Party, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

New this week:

Filmmaker Ricky D’Ambrose, whose feature Notes On An Appearance screens October 17 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, spoke with Tone Madison‘s Grant Phipps.

On our podcast, Madison-based musician Educational Davis talks about his various post-punk bands and his time living in Indonesia.

Youngblood Brass Band covered a No Doubt song and the results are pretty memorable.

What arts and music programs does the City of Madison want to fund in its next budget? We took a first look.

Elsewhere on the Madison internet: Richard Thompson has announced a December 12 show at the Barrymore. Sleazy Madison, a new Twitter and Instagram account, shines a light on the seedier side of Madison in the 1970s. Madison punk outfit Dumb Vision has a new video for the title track from its new album, Modern Things. On Arts + Literature Laboratory’s website, poet Amy Newman is answering questions.

This week’s Madison calendar: Zabriskie Point screens at UW Cinematheque. Dash Hounds roll out some new material at Communication. Vancouver DJ Florist spins at Robinia Courtyard. Experimental duo Charalambides play Arts + Literature Lab. And more.