Breaking: Arrest Made
From the Globe:
Police tonight arrested an Arlington man for planting the devices that led to bomb scares across the Boston area. Peter Berdvosky, an artist who told the Globe he installed the objects for a New York-based guerrilla marketing firm, was arrested at his home by law enforcement officers who were at his home for at least an hour tonight. Police have scheduled a press conference for 9 p.m.
The artist was arrested and not the firm?
Update — again, from the Globe:
“It’s all about corporate greed,” Menino said, adding that responsibility extended beyond those who placed the installations. “The people in the boardroom have some obligation,” Menino said tonight.
Well, he is the perpetrator…
I bet there will be charges brought against the company.
You’re kidding? The firm should be liable and repay the city every single cent that was spent today. I’m not familiar with American law but there has to be some recourse for the city.
And what kind of firm would give the green light to do this? Imagine the idea session that came up with the idea… “Yeah, that’s totally hilarious! He’s giving the finger! I don’t see a bad thing with this idea at all.”
I think this is going to come down to free speech issues, because if this guy can’t set up these ads, folks like Banksy and other guerrilla artists could also be held liable.
You can’t convict someone for doing something people took the wrong way. There has to be intent, or negligence… and what was he negligent for? From what I’ve seen, these LED units looked like lighting fixtures, and nothing like a bomb.
David,
I hope it doesn’t come down to free speech issues: the way I look at it is that it’s a piece of advertisement, not art, and I always feel weird when something with a distinct commercial objective takes on the language and supposed objectives of a Happening.
But maybe I’m wrong about Happenings, and should look at it as a piece of graffiti: is this just vandalism, then?
I feel bad for the artist who put these things up. City officials are looking like complete dipshits for shutting down half the city over some LED lights, that to me look like a Lite Brite, that were mistaken for “suspcious devices”. They’re just looking for someone to blame.
A slightly-interesting, non-bomblike piece of guerilla marketing freaks everyone out and Boston shuts down as police run around blowing shit up and worried SUV moms report the ones they saw.
I mean, COME ON. Score this one as a win for the terrorists.
I just don’t get it. The pictures show a glowing device, you can even make out a face.
Since when did terrorists make bombs look cool? No offense, but how can you take this as a bomb, and how can someone arrest this poor guy?
Hello? Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky = Can you say “Corporate Tools”?
http://antiadvertisingagency.com/news/who-hates-guerilla-marketing-in-boston/
Just because Comedy Central and Adult Swim have the sheen of ‘edgy/cool’, does not mean they’re alterna-outsider rebels. They’re still owned by Viacom. Which has mega-deep pocket$. Obviously, I’m not a fan of major corporations exploiting landmarks and local installations for their own PR/profit. Especially for free.