Dos Mundos Arts: The Snow Cone Machine Watches
Raspaos, for those that don’t know, are the Latino version of what you may call shaved ice or snow cones. Delicious treats on hot days, like the 40+ (Celsius) first day of summer we’re enjoying in TO today, are pretty much common all over the world…except maybe where they don’t have summer and really who cares about those losers?
Colombian born (Toronto based) artist Alexandra Gelis LOVES raspaos! So much so, that her recent work incorporates the iconic rapsao cart in a very clever way!
In Cartagena, Gelis brought together locals to build the cart, which she retrofitted with cameras and monitors. Each time the ice crusher was cranked, the camera would automatically record footage of the surrounding area. The footage is fed to a computer and then routed to one of the monitors on the side of the cart for playback.
Basically this idea is absolutely brilliant because it works on so many levels. First of all, it’s really cool. Second, who doesn’t love shaved ice? Third, yes people from a local community where given the opportunity to be involved and to build the cart. Fourth, someone got a JOB selling raspaos! Fifth, you’re documenting the day in the life of this rapsao seller and getting people in the city to interact with the cart/art on a daily basis. AWESOME!
Check out the video below and then get excited…because Toronto, you’re getting one of these soon!