- chrysalises hanging from the ceiling
- a giant spider attached to the rafters
- nationalistic umbrellas hanging from the ceiling
- large-scale puppets attached to the wall (permanent installation)
and, duh duh duhn...
- a huge, frighteningly sharp, sheet-metal sculpture
This huge, frighteningly sharp sheet-metal sculpture is hanging above the staircase, where a friendly box with twine around it used to be. It looks like a deli slicer and probably will slice someone any day now.
Brave Bunny was inspired to review the story of the sword of Damocles, which he will be delighted share with you for those who are unaware of the history, but it may have little relevance for the young students of the first grade. Damocles was a fawning Greek courtier envious of the tyrant, Dionysius, who ruled Syracuse in the 4th century BC (also the site of the Ears of Dionysius), a cave on the outskirts of town where Dionysius had spies to overhear what was being plotted against him. To digress, Brave Bunny and Cdubs had the opportunity of touring this site a few years ago. Returning to the tale, Damocles was offered the position of Dionysius for a day with all its luxury, which he enjoyed immensely until he observed a sharp sword over his head hanging by a single horse's hair. Dionysius subsequently related that his life was luxury hanging by a thread--i.e, he could be overturned and killed at any moment. Upon further reflection, Damocles rethought the life of a tyrant and became quite satisfied with his own lot. The significance of this story for the educational process is a little obscure, but perhaps the young charges should be encouraged not to turn into tyrants.
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