Re: Lewis Mash’s letter to the editor of Sunday, June 30: I am sorry that you were offended by some of the entrants in the Summer Solstice Parade. I feel I must comment on your complaint about the group re-enacting several famous paintings. This is an art form several hundreds years old, called “tableaux vivant.” It consists of “actors” portraying famous paintings. Usually, there are no frames around the scenes, but this being a parade, it was necessary to have a frame so the audience (parade attendees) would know these were paintings. It is incumbent on the actors to not move so that the illusion of a painting is preserved. It appears it was this stillness that you found creepy.
This art form continues to this day, with the Pageant of the Masters that occurs every summer in Laguna Beach to great acclaim. Perhaps, with this background information, your objection to this very clever and imaginative parade entry will be ameliorated.
