The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 20, May 15, 2005, Article 21

MORE ON THIBODEAU'S NONEY MONEY

On May 9th the Providence Journal published a lengthy article
about "noney," a currency created by Rhode Island artist Alec
Thibodeau. We first discussed this in The E-Sylum for April
10, 2005 (v8n15). here are some excerpts:

"The 32-year-old Providence man is standing on the other
side of the counter at CVS. He has just put down a twin-pack
of indelible markers ($2.19), then handed the cashier a cheerful
yellow-and-violet piece of paper.

It appears to be the currency of some obscure country,
depicting a happy young man named Ryan, a penguin and
a cucumber.

Call it funny money. But Thibodeau's not laughing. So for
a few suspenseful seconds, the cashier searches his face
for telltale signs of joking.

"It's a kind of art currency," he says.

He explains. He's an artist. This is his art. Would she
trade a couple markers for it?

"I can't take that," she says.

The deal dies. Thibodeau leaves. He's pleased, though.

He wasn't that interested in buying indelible ink anyway.
He has other markers. Thibodeau's more interested in
engaging unsuspecting people in thoughts of art, specifically
placing value on it.

"Some people get it right away," Thibodeau says. "Some
people react hostilely. But they are reacting. That's what
art is supposed to be about."

"On Noney.com, you can read stories of where Thibodeau's
art currency has surfaced around the world, and what people
have traded for it."

"The concept's not new.

"Jackson Pollock paid bar tabs with paintings," Thibodeau says.
"Picasso would write checks and then draw on them, knowing
the drawing would prevent people from cashing the check.
The doodle would be worth hundreds of dollars, and no money
was ever withdrawn from his checking account."

"Thibodeau copes. However, he'd rather not have to. The
tradition of posthumously priceless art isn't popular with artists.

"Art is one of those professions where you're economically
better off dead," he says. "I'd like to get more immediate value
from my art."

Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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