Probably Ritual

[bunn]

This Stick Man was erected last year in the first wave of enthusiasm during lockdown when lots of people put up banners and flags and so on supporting key workers, particularly NHS workers who might be passing.  This was a bit of an odd outlier from the first, because it's down a very minor lane with very few people passing, but gained popularity because it's on the route of a circular walk from the nearest large village, and the owners of Stick Man left out slices of tree-trunk and encouraged people to pick them up, paint them, then bring them back and hang them on the gate.


After a damp winter, both Stick Man and his votive offerings are now starting to develop all sorts of interesting fungi.
If you know the local story of him, he's benign enough, but I imagine if you are far from home, (as, for example, a visiting NHS ambulance driver might be) and stumble across this randomly by the roadside, he would be rather disturbing :-D 

Comments

[sally_maria]

I can see that he would be disturbing if you came upon him unexpectedly, but I must confess that I do think he's such a cool thing - a kind of community art project.

[bunn]

I think he's very cool! In a slightly Blair Witch kind of way, possibly, but still. A nice idea!

[independence1776]

That's really neat. I especially like the interactiveness with the painted tree trunks.

[bunn]

I liked that idea, but I also like the way that the woods are taking Stick Man and his painting back into the wilderness, through the medium of fungus...

[narya_flame]

Amazing! :D

[bunn]

And just a little startling...

[starspray]

That's very cool! Although I think coming upon him unexpectedly at night would be a bit alarming. Just driving along and then your headlights catch on that too-big-to-be-really-human figure...

[bunn]

He's a little disconcerting if you are wandering on foot along the lane in the rain, too!

[grundyscribbling]

Stick Man looks fantastic!

[bunn]

Worthy of his votive offerings!

[dhampyresa]

I LOVE HIM!

PRAISE BE TO THE STICK LORD

WOOD FOR THE WOOD GOD

[bunn]

AND HIS FUNGUS FRIENDS!