Cacophony Society Inclusion in Santa Ana Art Walk Rings U.S. Homeland Security Alarm Bells

Is the ultimate arbiter of art and culture in the city of Santa Ana the federal Department of Homeland Security?

Seems to be so based on a recent letter Vicky Baxter, executive director of Downtown Incorporated of Santa Ana,
sent to Reverend Al Ridenour of Cacophony Los Angeles, a scheduled participant in the Feb. 4 Art Walk at Grand Central Santa Ana.
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“Today I received a call from Mike McCoy, Homeland Security who issues
permits for events from the City, with concerns about the February Art
Walk and the association with the Cacophony Society,” begins Baxter's letter.

“He spent some time
looking at the website and is concerned about what will be presented to
the public because the City of Santa Ana is co-sponsor of the First
Saturday Art Walks. He is asking for a detailed description of what will
be presented to avoid any issues with public complaints or controversy.
I did not anticipate this but he is right. We do co-host the First
Saturday Art Walks with the City.

“Please send me the details of what is planned so we can inform Mike.”

Cacophony Los Angeles is one of the Cacophony Society lodges in 36 U.S. cities and nine countries. Once again, that's the Cacophony Society, not the Communist Party or al Qaeda or FPMR or FARC or Al-Jihad or Zviadists or the Salafist Group for Call and Combat or Black September or Hezbollah or the IRA. It's not even Occupy Santa Ana or the Answer Coalition or the GOP or the Minutemen or those yahoos who throw out the name Virginia Dare like Chiclets.

The Cacophony Society, which began in 1986 as a spin-off of San Francisco's Suicide Club, describes itself as “a randomly gathered network of free spirits united in the pursuit of experiences beyond the pale of mainstream society.” It's been described elsewhere as an unintended outgrowth of the Dada movement and the Situationists. Visit Cacophony.org, and you'll discover, “You may already be a member.”

So, by Homeland Security's reckoning, you may already be a terrorist? Or is this another witty Cacophony prank? Hmmm .  .  .

After all, as mischievous but harmless the Cacophony Society is, what could possibly have leather panties at Homeland Security in a bunch? Is it possible the feds see too much similarity between this Cacophony image . . .

And this?

La Figa blogger Lisa Derrick reached out to Homeland Security's McCoy for an explanation, as did we, also to no avail. But, rather than retreat in horror, Cacophony LA and the Cacophony Society responded to McCoy with an open letter that goes into excruciatingly delicious detail about what the group has in store for Santa Anans.

The letter follows after the break:
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January 12, 2012

Dear Mr. McCoy,

Yesterday, Vicky Baxter, Executive Director of Downtown Incorporated
of Santa Ana, forwarded this message regarding the opening festivities
for the museum show “The Cacophony Society Zone Show” hosted by Grand
Central Art Center.

Today I received a call from Mike
McCoy, Homeland Security who issues permits for events from the City,
with concerns about the February Art Walk and the association with the
Cacophony Society.   He spent some time looking at the website and is
concerned about what will be presented to the public because the City of
Santa Ana is co-sponsor of the First Saturday Art Walks.   He is asking
for a detailed description of what will be presented to avoid any
issues with public complaints or controversy.   I did not anticipate
this but he is right.  We do co-host the First Saturday Art Walks with
the City. Please send me the details of what is planned so we can inform Mike.

We understand the Department's domain over public complaints and
controversy in the arts as well as the precedent setting crowd control
issues and threat of civil disturbance raised by the April 3, 2004
GCAC's exhibition of art by Thomas Kinkade “Painter of Light.”

In cooperation with your request for further information, we are
providing the attached list of public art and performance scheduled as
part of our opening.

ART CARS
These are playfully customized cars typically decorated both with
thrift store finds, and other colorful detritus, generally free of sharp
edges or objectionable content.  These Include Emily Duffy's “Vain
Van,” the Thingmaker's “Tijuana Taxi,” Reverend Hotcakes “Jungle Truck,”
and Reverend Charles Linville's “Ass Car.”  It should be pointed out
that the visual and sculptural references in Reverend Linville's “Ass
Car,” are exclusively confined to parts of canine anatomy freely
displayed throughout our country wherever dogs are found.   Parked
alongside the art cars will be an assembly of immense fiberglass dog
sculptures.  These fiberglass icons of The Cacophony Society depict only
shoulder and heads of what is generally taken to be a Dachshund with no
lower objectionable parts displayed or insinuated. If need be,
photographs of these cars may be provided for DHS approval.

THE ART OF BLEEDING AMBULANCE & CHUCKLES THE KLOWN
The Art of Bleeding is a performance art group offering faux
educational programs in health and safety out of the back of an
ambulance.  They are joined by performer Chuckles the Klown offering a
playful yet safe yet really playful demonstration on needle safety.

DR. SUNSHINE
Is an associate of The Art of Bleeding who uses uplifting humor to teach about hideous disfigurement and tragedy.

STRIP DREIDEL
Employs a phone booth sized replica of the Semitic top in a
performance that crosses the beloved Hanukah tradition with the teen
party game “Spin the Bottle.”  The operator of the dreidel insures the
level of striptease involved conforms to “community standards” as well
as any additional standards DHS normally applies in its regulation of
bookshops, adult theaters, nightclubs, or burlesque houses.

DO IT YOURSELF PROTEST AREA
One of the iconic activities engaged in by the Cacophony Society is
mock protests over ludicrous causes. Honoring this tradition and as a
satiric nod toward the controversial and ultimately dangerous nature of
public discourse, we provide a soapbox, poster board, and markers to
Society Members as well as enthusiastic passersby.   These activities
and limited use of bullhorns will be conducted in accordance with our
understanding of issues of pubic nuisance and noise abatement and/or
guidelines issues at DHS discretion.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Musical performances will be provided by Fancy Space People,
Creekbird, Clowns & Fetuses, and Phat Mandee.  The diverse content
and presentation of these musical acts would be difficult to describe in
this context, but set lists, audio recordings and video links can be
provided for DHS scrutiny.   The ensemble Clowns and Fetuses has
suggested that their themed performance on “Human Spontaneous
Combustion” would feature a number of piñatas to be set ablaze.  The
piñatas would be of standard size and construction and ignited
sequentially in a designated safe area.  A moderate amount of accelerant
such as barbecue lighter fluid would necessarily be employed.  We are
prepared to work with local fire officials and/or DHS in ensuring that
appropriate fire fighting equipment and personnel is on hand and that no
damage to person or property occurs.

COMEDY & MAGIC
Comedian-magician Bieno Svengali as well as comedian Eric Cash will
perform.  Exact content of their sets is not confirmed at this time,
though Cash is expected to preside over a mock raffle “giveaway” of an
Afghani war orphan.

HOMELAND SECURITY HOSPITALITY STATION
In the spirit of free discourse and rapprochement, The Cacophony
Society will dedicate a table to the display of introductory literature
on the CS as well as whatever literature or materials DHS would care to
provide.  A live representative will be available for discussion. Coffee
and donuts provided.

As with any live event, a certain level of spontaneity is to be
expected, but the above describes to the best of our ability art,
performance, and activities planned for the opening of this museum
exhibition. If you can provide further guidelines on any of the
described activities, they would be much appreciated.

We look forward to working with The Department of Homeland Security to make this a fun, safe, and educational event for all.

Sincerely,

Al Ridenour
Founder, The Los Angeles Cacophony Society

John Law
Member, Suicide Club: Co-Founder San Francisco Cacophony Society: Co-Founder, Burning Man.

Jon Alloway
Director, Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society