The Bristol Waterslide
Jon Aitken didn’t quite manage to get a ticket for the waterslide on Park Street last Sunday, but he did spend the whole day tweeting about it.
Have a read below to find out how the day went – complete with observations that the mainstream media perhaps didn’t pick up on.
Bristol Art Weekend you have finished me. Sunburnt and tired. Now climaxing with falafel #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/e9iaPWP0T3 — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Seven hours earlier: I turned up at 9:30am (on a Sunday, people, a Sunday) to watch Luke Jerram himself be the first to slide down his own art work.
The tension is killing me #BristolSlide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
// He survived #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014 // ]]>It was time, I thought, to take a different approach to the day.
1st attempt obviously lubricated the slide effectively; 2nd pass even further #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
The press area is already awash. Very clean though, the smell of fairy liquid fills the air #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
2nd victim down the slide is @wshed's very own tech man Oliver! #cleanbeard #BristolSlide @PMStudioUK pic.twitter.com/ZgrfnSEHxV — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Over 90k people applied to go on the slide; the longer I stayed the more painful it became that I was never to enjoy it for myself.
Precautionary measures in place; slide-chafing injuries imminent #BristolSlide pic.twitter.com/rJrIdumoba — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Instead, my pain turned to bitterness.
It's like being in a gopro enthusiasts wet dream #BristolSlide #sorrytoofar — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Sidenote: the portaloos here are spotless, kudos to the Jerram team. Get in there while you can. #BristolSlide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Notice the increasing level of joy at others' failure.
1st full drenching has occurred. This is becoming a blood sport #BristolSlide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
First slide failure has occurred. No amount of broom-aided prodding could push them down. Thoughts are with you. #BristolSlide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
"It is over" #BristolSlide pic.twitter.com/S8KqC2AsqZ — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
I put the question mark because I definitely heard someone shout 'Steve', though can't be sure if it was aimed at this guy. Congrats anyway, whoever you are.
FIRST TO MAKE IT TO THE GREEN WELL DONE STEVE(?) pic.twitter.com/fLToC7Cd55 — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Look how happy this man is:
G-force evident #BristolSlide pic.twitter.com/0bOfbZugqZ — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
The slide in full force! https://t.co/baYH3TVSBX — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Ensuring a slippery passage #bristolslide https://t.co/ORfnQX7nda — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Some, however, were not so enthralled by the artwork.
This dog is disgusted and has had enough #BristolSlide pic.twitter.com/0bFjg5BjxX — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
I still don't know who this man is.
This man is from @BBCOne's The One Show; should I know who he is?!! #bristolslide #millennial pic.twitter.com/hgKJ02B9Y9 — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Choose your vehicle (I heard flames make you go faster) #LAD #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/6W4teVCDPK — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
I felt so bad for this guy I wasn't even able to form sentences properly.
Slide user @jamesdevine89 didn't to shower this morning #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/e2WBeUr72s — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
"The bigger they are the quicker they go" - crew member. From my observations I can assure you that this is true. #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
BREAKING NEWS: FROM THE EXPLOSIVE NOISE I JUST HEARD I BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR FIRST LILO PUNCTURE (Awaiting confirmation) #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Another victim:
"I went on the #bristolslide and look at me now LOOK AT ME KNOW" pic.twitter.com/vV1I2qJXGA — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
The overspill is now watering College Green (please bear in mind how stupid I looked taking this) #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/xpdXkqWqPt — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Best view in the house? #cooshti #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/79ETr47dt3 — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Perhaps 2, maybe 3, more spectators now than at 9am this morning #bristolslide https://t.co/qjXxtRXjNW — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
That bloke from the One Show goes down; the crowd erupts. We have become a screaming mass. #bristolslide https://t.co/RloIbEGjJn — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
On a more refined note, some people were debating whether the slide was art or not and its similarities to a previous installation...
Currently eavesdropping on a bloke comparing this to Carsten Holler's installation in @Tate's Turbine Hall. Interesting... #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
But anyway, back to my my inability to hold a camera properly:
LOOK AT MY CAMERA SKILLS. #bristolslide https://t.co/41MaBFPEYF — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
More observations as the day went on:
The sliders who go slowly all look quite embarrassed. And so they should. #getlube #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Superman style seems to be effective, take note future sliders #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Judging by the cheering (jeering?) there must have been a decent crash at the bottom #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Here's evidence of the guy from The One Show on his second go down the slide. Glad he had such a nice time.
Petition to get this installed in @wshed's @PMStudioUK (cc. @clarered @HannaHigginson) #bristolslide https://t.co/29wTIgy3MV — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
"Health and safety has done too good a job on this" - ok didn't actually hear anyone say that but I can sense it #bristolslide — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
At this point my sadistic side became even more apparent.
Essential maintenance otherwise there could be casualties.. Or entertainment? #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/ylM9zk0ZNF — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Furious live tweeting means having to recharge on the go #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/O4QVhT50ji — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
If you took a moment to turn away from the slide and look around there was plenty of other stuff going on.
The sassiest people on the entire hill #bristolslide https://t.co/mFawwJ8uKq — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Another installation just up the hill behind the University of Bristol, equally as fun as going on a water slide.
Just took a side trip to the mirror maze by UOB! #bristol https://t.co/gSlYYEaevO — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Perhaps the pinnacle of the entire day was seeing these two ladies parting the crowd.
It gets better #bristolslide https://t.co/rprkH7f2De — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
7 hours later and I was a mere shadow of my former self.
Bristol Art Weekend you have finished me. Sunburnt and tired. Now climaxing with falafel #bristolslide pic.twitter.com/e9iaPWP0T3 — Jon Aitken (@jonbehere) May 4, 2014
Prepare yourselves for the next event I live-tweet by following @RifeMag (I can sense your immediate enthusiasm - thank you.)