…Exploring the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer and the significance of the prank in society.
60 years ago, in 1966 on Easter Sunday, Joey Skaggs dragged his iconoclastic sculpture of a naked and decayed figure of Jesus Christ on a crucifix into Tompkins Square Park on the lower east side. It was his personal statement about the war in Vietnam and the hypocrisy of religion.
This was the beginning of Skaggs’ career as an artist who used the streets as his theater.
Reminiscent of Joey Skaggs’ Vietnamese Christmas Nativity Burning, Central Park, 1968
“Zip-Tied Baby Jesus Guarded by ICE Agents in Illinois Church Nativity Scene,” by TMZ Staff, TMZ, December 4, 2025.
No Room at the Inn, or the Border!!! Baby Jesus Tied Up in Church Nativity Manger.
If Jesus comes to the U.S., he’d better have a valid visa … at least that’s the worry of an Illinois church that’s installed a controversial Nativity scene depicting the baby messiah zip-tied in a manger.
Lake Street Church of Evanston — just north of Chicago — reimagined the Nativity with masked centurions wearing green vests labeled “ICE” surrounding the Holy Family. Mother Mary and Joseph wear respirator masks to shield themselves from tear gas, according to the church. Read the whole article here.
It may not be as environmentally friendly or accurate, but it might be a step up from current fiscal decision making.
“Albania’s mischievous AI stunt,” by Editorial Board, Washington Post, September 21, 2025.
The tiny country’s prime minister announces a chatbot as minister.
Move over, DOGE. President Donald Trump famously created a White House agency that uses technology to streamline government. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has one-upped Trump by appointing an artificial-intelligence bot to his cabinet.
Rama announced this month that “Diella” — Albanian for “Sun” — would join his government as a minister. Diella already pops up to greet visitors on the government website e-Albania. Her new charge: to oversee public procurement.
She won’t need to be that incorruptible to outperform the current system.
Art as religion:
“Shroud of Turin didn’t wrap Jesus’ crucified body — it was just art, new research claims,” by Ben Cost, New York Post, August 1, 2025.
This holy linen’s origins remain shrouded in mystery.
Contrary to popular belief, the sacred Shroud of Turin was not used to cover Jesus’ post-crucifixion and was actually a recreation created by artists, per a study published in the journal Archaeometry.
“The Shroud’s image is more consistent with an artistic low-relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body,” Brazilian 3D digital designer Cicero Moraes, who used modeling software, wrote in the paper, per the Daily Mail.
It is with profound sadness that I say goodbye to my dear friend Dino who unexpectedly left us last week. Words cannot express the deep sorrow and tragic loss I feel.
Dino was a true friend, compatriot and co-conspirator. He was a man of many talents with a brilliant, creative, and searingly funny imagination.
A star just went out in my universe.