Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/119978
Sarasota News Leader April 5, 2013 Page 40 DavisShaw. "If [the inspector] sees anything in the walking area, he will notify the property owners. A sandwich board or a Tube Dude and it's not in the walking area, he has not cited them." "And we are negotiating production of a Tube Dude toy." TUBE DUDES SETTING OFF HOMETOWN RESPONSE HEATS UP Scott Gerber is the creator (Inventor? Sculptor?) of the smiling figurines made of extruded aluminum tubes and then powder-coated in bright colors. They can be shaped to represent anyone from a hairstylist with a blow drier to a fisherman with a catch. Each one has a smile. Not everybody is wild about Gerber's colorful gang. The Main Street Merchants Association began a straw poll, asking members and a few downtown residents about sandwich boards, clothing racks, Tube Dudes and other impedimenta along the sidewalks. "Every city has its defining art. Chicago has its bulls. Bradenton has its geckos on the wall. Sarasota has the Tube Dude," said Gerber. "When people buy one and take it home, they say it reminds them of their visit [to Sarasota]." Gerber added that his creation has attracted private investors, and he is planning on opening nine showrooms across the United States in the next 18 months. He said four of his creations were at the arena for the recent NCAA Men's Basketball Championship games, and four giant Tube Dudes are going into New York's linear High Line Park over the lower west side of Manhattan. As for proliferation downtown, Gerber said there are only five. The last one was installed 14 months ago. "Better than one-third [of respondents] are offended by the sandwich boards, and a smaller percentage by the clothing racks on display every day. This is not a scientific poll," said Ron Campion. "I personally like the Tube Dudes, but about one-third of the people don't. But even those people who said [the Tube Dudes] were tacky did not ask for any restrictions." Nonetheless, one local group may be thinking about a "hunting license" for the dudes. Elizabeth van Ripper is the chairwoman of the city's Public Art Committee. She told the DID at the outset that she was speaking strictly for herself, adding that the Tube Dudes are on the group's next meeting agenda, in May. "We have a heritage of fine art and authenticity. Many coastal communities have whimsical Another two giant dudes are being installed in do-dads," she said. "We have to be differentiAtlanta. "Everybody we deal with considers ated." this art," he said. Asked if the committee has its sights on GerNext up? "We are in negotiations with the ber's statues, she replied, "When it's on pubRingling [College] of Art and Design for a lic property, there is a case for the Public Art commercial venture," Gerber announced. Committee to put it to the test." %