Pull yourself out of the balmy weather tomorrow and watch a river race between the 12 animals of the Zodiac, using actual animals, live from Zhujiajiao, China. Artist Duke Riley, who in 2009 turned the Queens Museum of Art into a real-life Roman battle, is staging the event as a Rematch for the animals who were cheated in the original race thousands of years ago by the rat. “No calendars will be reset at the finish line nor will any closer understanding of that mythical day be realized," Riley says in a release. "The only realization will be a brief moment of divine absurdity between two shores.”
Here's how Riley describes tomorrow's race:
The twelve gondolas bearing the live zodiac animals (some animal stand-ins will be necessary, i.e. the dragon) will begin at a leisurely pace and will be split into two different starting lines. They will meet in the middle of the Caogang River and line up side-by-side facing the Fangsheng Bridge. At the start of the race, they will row past Ming and Qing dynasty architecture and continue under the Fangsheng Bridge. This bridge is one of the main areas to watch the race, along with adjacent waterfront restaurants and the boat launch pavilion. A master of ceremony will announce the progress of the race from the top of the bridge. The gondolas will continue beyond the bridge where the traditional architecture gives way to demolition and new condominium developments under construction. The rowers will make a loop around a stationary post, then head back to the Fangsheng Bridge. The first to pass any of its arches will be declared the winner.
An awards ceremony will take place on a floating grandstand. Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place animals/rowers. They will pose for photographs with Riley and local dignitaries. A feast with the participants will follow.
You can watch the race in Manhattan at the Magnan Metz Gallery at West 26th Street (RSVP), or the Egg and Dart Club in Brooklyn (RSVP). Doors open at 6. It's suggested that you make a donation to benefit displaced animals of a former Shanghai zoo. Gooooooo Dog!
