DEAD RINGER
Passers-by fooled into thinking art project dummy of Roseanne star John is a corpse
POLICE were called to a life-like dummy of movie star John Goodman – after it was mistaken for a dead body. The art installation of the Roseanne actor is in a car parked beside Bill’s Tool Store in Glasgow’s east end. The dummy is slumped forward asleep with a toothpick in its mouth and is so realistic that it has left people walking past confused – and worried. Graham Ramsay, artist and curator, said: “The police appeared the first day it was there. “They were looking through the window and thought they’d better just check in
Bill’s Tools. The artist Jack Cheetham spoke to the duty officer there and had to explain what was going on.”
Allan Duff, 48, co-owner of Bill’s Tools, said: “The police went to smash the window. The reaction to the dummy has been brilliant. It’s been the best thing out of all the things in the shop.
“We’ve had a bit of a laugh with customers when they ask, ‘Is that guy still sleeping in that car?’
“We’ve had customers in worrying about him thinking he’s dead. It’s so life-like. It’s not what we expected but it’s a bit of fun.” The installation is part of the exhibition Good £uck, which sees art created by local people and placed in shops around the city.
The pieces include a toy hand in a fridge, a fake loaf of bread with eyes and a man selling perfume.
Graham said: “Jack has got a bit of an obsession with John Goodman.
“He tracked down a head cast from an LA special FX and then made his own silicone cast. It’s got quite a story to it.”
The artist also made a cast of his arms for the dummy. Graham added: “I think it shows the work was successful in adding moments of surprise to people’s lives.”