“That’s one small step for a man,
one giant leap for mankind.”
Scene no 65:
Neal Armstrong (Louis Marx & co. toys, plastic 6 inch Astronaut figure, made
in U.S.A.) on the surface of the Moon (Jean toys, Lunar landscape, made in
Germany), near the Lunar Module (Daishin toys, battery operated Apollo 11
American Eagle LM, made in Japan).
The statement:
Armstrong’s first words on the Moon.
“Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck
Oh, Aqualung
Sun streaking cold
An old man wandering lonely
Taking time the only way he knows
Leg hurting bad
As he bends to pick a dog-end
He goes down to the bog and warms his feet.”
Scene no 64:
A homeless long-haired, bearded man in shabby clothes (LEPI original
woodcut figure) with a stray dog (Starlux toys) on the city streets (Unidentified
painting on wood).
The lyrics:
From the title song Aqualung, from Jethro Tull’s fourth studio album.
“A well regulated Militia,
being necessary to the security of a free
State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
shall not be infringed.”
Scene no 63:
An authentic submachine gun (Mettoy toys), easy to operate. No caps! No
batteries!
The text: The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.
“What do we mean by the Revolution? The war?
That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of
it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was enacted, from
1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years before a drop of blood was shed at
Lexington.”
Scene no 62:
Early American colonists (Elastolin toy figures) march proclaiming the American
independence over the British rule. In the background, long cabin (Lineol toys)
and tree (Marolin toys). Based on the famous work «The Spirit of ’76», by the
American painter Archibald Willard.
The text: John Adams to Jefferson (1815).
“Who are you then?” “I am a knight”
“Of such I know not, not a sight
Of one”, said the youth, “nor word
Of any such, have I seen or heard;
Yet you are handsomer than God.
If only I, who go ill-shod,
Were made like you, and shone so bright!”
Scene no 61:
King Arthur riding (MM no 63, King Arthur animated toy, friction drive, made in
Hong Kong) in front of young Perceval and a red knight (Heye Art.-Nr.29734,
Inside Neuschwanstein, Parzival, puzzle made in Germany).
The text: Lines
from PERCEVAL by Chretien de Troyes.
I sought a theme and sought for it in vain,
I sought it daily for six weeks or so.
Maybe at last being but a broken man
I must be satisfied with my heart, although
Winter and summer till old age began
My
circus animals were all on show,
Those stilted boys, that burnished chariot,
Lion and woman and the Lord knows what.
Scene no 60:
Cardboard reconstruction of the Humberto’s Circus (Artia Prag edition of
Vojtech Kubasta, folding panorama, pop-up display) and two real, roaring lions (Elastolin
composition animals) among the paper artists.
The text: The first verses from the poem The Circus Animals’ Desertion, by William Butler Yeats.
For over seven centuries the Dwarf-kingdom of Erebor grew wealthy and powerful, but in the year 2770 the winged, fire-breathing dragon called Smaug the Golden destroyed the realm, and drove out the Dwarves.
Scene no 59:
The front gate to Erebor (WETA, Front Gate to Erebor, Sculptors: Dave Tremont
and Leonard Ellis) carved into the green stone of the Lonely Mountain. And all
around, green trees (Unknown manufacturer).
The text: From TOLKIEN - The Illustrated Encyclopedia, by David Day.
