There’s a fine line between art and just plain weird and a Tarpon Springs artist is dancing that line.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Poland native Piotr Janowski wrapped three sides of his home in aluminum foil. He’s covered palm trees in the reflective silver wrap and constructed ears from heavy-duty Reynold’s Wrap and some chicken wire.
The ears are attached to other trees. They are meant to be symbols of curiosity.
An arborist determined the foil wasn’t a threat to the trees.
The Times reports Janowski graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago and despite pushback from some neighbors and an investigation by code enforcement, he said he’s not breaking any rules.
“I was really happy with the location, the garden, he told the Times. “And from that time, something was cooking in my head.
Janowski has reportedly used aluminum foil in art projects before, but this takes on a whole new tone. Photos of the home he is renting show an almost alien-like reflective home and palm tree with Janowski sitting happily under it.
In the photo he’s in the shade, but move that chair back a few feet and Janowski could probably catch himself a pretty mean sunburn from the reflection of the broad side of his home.
Even fixtures attached to the home like the breaker box and electric meter are covered in foil. The front door is, too, as are the windows.
Neighbors reportedly thought, initially, their neighbor was installing new insulation or trying to get better Internet connectivity.
Nope, just art.
According to a Times report, not all the neighbors are complaining. One neighbor told the reporter “to each his own, it’s just weird.”
Janowski said he’ll take the foil, plastered to his home with adhesive spray, down in about a month. After that he hopes to display similar displays in other places later.
