Installation 9: Let the Games Begin (you may want to read Installation 8)

The holiday season at the museum involved many days of legitimate vacation and also a considerable number of days of coming in late and leaving early simply because one could get away with it. No work was done; people sat at their desks and checked e-mail or mingled with cups of coffee while eating goodies from Tupperware containers and holiday tins. This went on until roughly the second week of January, when suddenly the tins disappeared, people were was again anchored to their desks by work they had put off for nearly a month and everyone was on a diet.

It was at precisely this point, when he could be sure he’d have everyone’s full attention, that James Trehorn decided to call the first meeting of the Picchu! Art of the Ancient Incas Opening Party and Reception Steering Committee. The committee consisted of 24 people from every department within the museum. It included such museum superstars as Martin Colhurst from the Drawing Department (a 25-year veteran of the museum with valuable opening party experience), Betsy Linder from Education (known for her impeccable taste and ability to throw a good cocktail party with just the right amount of artichoke dip) and Sigrid Danforth from the IT Department (not valued for anything but someone from IT had to be chosen.) And, of course, Phoebe Persons. Everyone assembled in the Early Romanticism Conference Room with notebooks, Palm Pilots, mugs of green tea or coffee, and bottles of water. James arrived precisely one minute before the meeting was to begin and handed out a crisp, white agenda.

Agenda
January 12, 20__
Picchu! Art of the Ancient Incas
Opening Reception & Party Steering Committee

I.Opening Remarks – James Trehorn
II.Old Business
III.New Business
A. Brainstorm Entertainment! – Committee in entirety
B. Publicity
C. Food/Alcohol
D.Parking
E.Security
IV.Assignments and Next Meeting

No one started to pay attention until the meeting arrived at Roman numeral three, subheading A – Brainstorming. At this point James leaned back, put his hands behind his head (revealing dark sweat patches under his arms which betrayed the fact that he was not nearly as self-assured as he would have everyone think) and said, “I’d like to open this up for discussion. Mary Ellen has graciously agreed to write down all of your ideas on the flip chart.”

Mary Ellen Seifert, manager of the museum’s store, stood and smoothed her brown wool jumper. She went to the flip chart and uncapped an orange marker.

“Fire when ready.” Mary Ellen laughed at her own joke.

After an hour, the group’s list was as follows:

Ideas for Picchu! Art of Ancient Incas Opening

--Reggaeton DJ! (or any music featuring “Dem Bow” beat)

--Llama and/or alpaca rides through gallery. Alternately – feed a llama or alpaca corral. Note: contact petting zoo re: animal rental and food pellets

--Clowns with festive appearance, i.e. colorful! Peruvian? Note: Martin knows a group of clowns who went to Peru. Volunteered to contact.

--Meet a concubine. Alternately, have your picture taken with a concubine. Adults only!

--Sun-God Disco – set up dance floor with rotating disco ball, hire DJ (Reggaeton?!)

--Quechua sing-along

--Oxygen Bar

--Inti Raymi festival complete with a Sexy Woman parade. Note: may be confusion between “sexy woman” and “Sacsayhuaman,” a small village in Peru where an Inti Raymi parade takes place. James to research.

--Guinea Pig Roast with corn on the cob and papas fritas

--Wine, cheese, jazz (reggaeton songs done in jazz style?)

James was quite ruffled after the session ended and had no strength to go on to food, alcohol, parking or security. The meeting was adjourned. On the way out, James stopped Phoebe, placing his slim fingers on her shoulder.

“I wouldn’t have pegged you as such a fan of reggaeton.”

“Reggaeton has been a huge hit all across the globe, especially in Latin American countries, Colombia, Venezuela, and in some Central American countries. In 2004, reggaeton gained widespread popularity in the United States, eventually gaining attention in many 'Western' countries. This has been due to N.O.R.E. introducing the genre on to mainstream America with the song "Oye Mi Canto," and when Daddy Yankee came out with his album Barrio Fino and his hit single "Gasolina." Another important artist that contributed to gain popularity to reggaeton, especially in Europe, is Don Omar, with singles like 'Pobre Diabla' and 'Dale Don Dale'..”

“I see. Well, it certainly will be interesting trying to sort all of these ideas out, although I’m partial to the wine, cheese and jazz.”

“I should go now. I have to make some photocopies.”

“Of course.”

Phoebe picked up her notebook and coffee mug from the conference table and walked out. James watched her go, noting her firm ass (courtesy of many, many pilates classes) and solidified his intentions to persuade her to see him outside of museum environs.

Special thanks to Wikipedia for help with research on the exploding music craze know as reggaeton.

NEXT.