Syracuse Cardiff Giant

“There’s a Sucker Born Every Minute: Re-creating the Cardiff Giant” was a project by Syracuse Artist Ty Marshal which re-created the Cardiff Giant according to the original size specifications. Ty used Hypertufa, a mix of Portland cement, peat moss, and perlite (which creates a “lighter concrete” that can withstand harsh weather conditions). The project’s focus defined a lineage to Central New York’s history as a creative community, how religious fundamentalism has affected modern culture in Upstate New York and throughout the nation, and the origin of arts and entertainment (notably “pop culture”) in the United States, and how arts and culture serves as an economic engine.

 It is with deep gratitude that I wish to express my thanks to all of the organizations, businesses and individuals who partnered, sponsored and volunteered on the Cardiff Giant project: “There’s a Sucker Born Every Minute: Re-creating the Cardiff Giant”. The support of the Onondaga Historical Association, The Gifford Foundation, The Central New York Community Foundation and the Reisman Foundation shows the strength of partnership and collaboration in our community. Maarten Jacobs from The Near Westside Initiative, Isaac Rothwell and the members of The Westside Arts Council (WAC) and Rick Destito and Dennis Earle with the members of Stewards of Lipe Art Park (SLAP) are dedicated individuals working hard on the revitalization efforts in the Near Westside Neighborhood and were extremely gracious in unearthing our “Giant” in Lipe Art Park. The support from Christopher DeCourse and the Department of Anthropology at SU’s Maxwell School also helped make this project truly come alive! The Village of Homer, NY and the Homer Center for the Arts turned this local project into one of regional collaboration.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT VIA KICKSTARTER:
Binaifer Dabu, Mary Taitt, Katy Peace, Martin Butts, Teresa Marra, Mary, Caroline Maun, Jimmy Wachter and Geoff Ameele, Jimmy Curtin, Havarah, Kimberley McCoy, Lauren Bolden, Mike, Eva Guggenheim, James Schults, Crichton Atkinson, Vinnie Delaney, Cristin Hughes, Sean Grimes, CJ Young, Carole Horan, Cayetano Valenzuela, Tim Ferlito, Magpie Campbell, Richard, Josh Jenkins, Nancy Keefe Rhodes, Sara Perkins, Danielle Arduini, Tamaralee Shutt, Lyle Chamney, Isaac “Jung Profit” Rothwell, Georgette Nicolaides, Patrick Williams, Richard Roberts, Lisa Sacco, Lee Eddy, Gina Cooke, Frank Cetera, Kathryn B. Petrillo, Tim Fox, Paul, Lee McIntyre, Andrea Deva, Beth Haber, Jordan Glaski, James Emmons, Heidi Stephens, Lauren Bristol, Windwalker Art, Suzanne O’Donnell, RearviewMags, Vanessa, Gina Mastropool, L. Thomas Minion, Sunny, Robert Petrillo, Christina Trovato, Jodi Bates, Hanna Richardson, Joe Sullivan, Sarah Byrne, Joe Carpenter, T Barry, Jessah Serafini, Vin Burke, Jake LaManna, Karen Clark, Arthur Suleymanov, Karen Greenfield, Jason Evans, Sean Orcutt, Tara Taylor, Becky Howard, Rhonda Jacobs, Steven T. Winston, Marcia LaManna, Charles Wise, Sarah Overmeyer, J Holt, Kim Visconti, CJ and Arielle Bryant, John Wyman, Amos Paul Kennedy, JR., Christopher Sinatra, Lucas, Venessa, Elias Gwinn, Martin A. Sweeney, Caroline McGowan, Chris Hanson, Arielle Bryant, Kate Hanson, Ryan Diana, Kyle Quinn, Michael J Dougherty, Junior Morse, Jodie Hoffstead, Courtney, The Kind Coffee Company, Lynne Bryant, Aubry Panek, Michael Brewster, Ellen Parker, Kathleen Barry, Leslie Benack, Lindsey Phillips, Jacob Hoag, Tom Carpenter, Bob Kane, Margaret Barry, Rachel Somerstein, Gretchen Purser, Jenny Dombroske, M. Sweeney Lawless, Chris Quinn, Phil Simonson.