Ant Nostalgia

By Pat Fish

Forty-three years ago Mark Secosh and I did a mad series of antics, installing thirty-eight 38″ ants on buildings all over Santa Barbara. The best one was on the 8th floor of the Granada Theatre, accomplished by leaning out the window of the KTYD radio studios.

We brought along other people on the Ant Patrol events, telling them we wanted them to brag about being chosen to participate but swearing them to secrecy about who the Ant Crew were. The stencil was originally brought from Wisconsin, where it troubled small town America, and then it began the reign of confusion in a new slightly more sophisticated place, that we chose to re-christen Anta Barbara.

Yes, it was a bit like tagging, but it was also performance art and tonight I am in a reminiscent mood for a more innocent time. Locals may remember having seen some of the other locations, all were very public.