The Art of Clean

Local artist Pierre Sylvain beautified Main Street last year with his colorfully painted recycle barrels. (read about it here).  He is once again mixing art and utility, this time by painting brooms. I asked Pierre about his motivations in this unique new endeavor.

KS – So Pierre, you're painting brooms these days?

PS – Yes that's right.

KS – Why?

PS – Because someone asked me to.

KS - If I put something else in front of you, will you paint it?

PS – Yes.

KS - Would you paint a shoe?

PS - Yes (Pierre lifts up one foot to show the painted shoe creation he's wearing).

KS – Is there anything you wouldn't paint?

PS – If the price is right, I'll paint it.

KS – Who asked you to paint a broom?

PS – Fred Carroll, the Bum with the Broom.

KS – Oh yes, I know Fred. I see him sweeping all over town. He really cleans things up! If I may be so nosy, how much did you charge him to paint his brooms?

PS – There's no charge for Fred. I want to support Bums with Broom in any way I can.

KS – Did Fred explain why he wanted a Pierre Sylvain original broom instead of just using his plain handled brooms?

PS – No, he didn't say. I guess he likes my work.

KS – And for the design of the broom, did Fred ask for a specific theme or design?

PS – When he first asked, he wanted me to put a tiger on it, but I said I couldn't fit a tiger on a broom handle.   So he said to just do anything. That's the way I like it - full creative freedom.

KS – Do you plan to continue painting brooms for Fred?

PS – I have my usual other projects going on, but yes, as long as Fred keeps sweeping and wants me to paint his brooms, I will. Fred is a very colorful character and that makes sense to have a colorful broom in his hand. He goes through a broom every week or two.

KS – What? Wow!

PS – Yeah he's a sweeping fool, that Fred.

KS – Didn't I read in Patch that Fred gave up Bums with Brooms, swearing he'd sweep no more?

PS – Yeah, I guess he did quit, but I guess he couldn't stay away.

KS – What kind of paint do you use?

PS – Acrylic.

Fred can be seen on sidewalks and corners all over Middletown providing his free cleaning service. The painted brooms provide the added function of making him more visible to drivers of cars when he's hard at work.  Pierre Sylvain's artwork has been displayed at Gallore Gallery on Washington Street and is now on display at Imperial Carribean restaurant in Cromwell, Fiore II italian restaurant on Main Street in Middletown, Nora Cupcake Company on Main Street in Middletown, Cypress Grill on Route 17 in Middletown, Giovanni Hair Design in West Hartford, and most recently installed at Tesoro on Main Street in Middletown where they can be viewed from the street. 

Fred Carroll cartoons ...

Candidate Statement: Fred Carroll - Common Council

The below information is a part of the Eye's Elections 2011 series to provide information to voting citizens and does not represent any endorsement by the Middletown Eye or any of its authors.

Hi, I'm Fred Carroll and I'm soliciting your attention to consider me when you vote on Tuesday, November 8^th. I'm seeking a seat on Middletown Common Council on the Realistic Balance Party, a recently created third party line.

You may or may not remember me from "Bums with Brooms," The Homeless Report (WESU 88.1 fm radio station from 2006 to 2008), but I dare say that I might very well be Middletown's resident expert on homelessness and as such, represent a significant portion of the Middletown community.

Here is a quick review of my six campaign points and thank you for you consideration.

1- Create Designated Loitering Zones (DLZs), an area designed to be both bum-welcoming and at the same time bum-proofing, the hope of minimizing the negative environmental impact of Middletown's ever growing loitering class.

2- Brooms and chess sets everywhere especially at the DLZs

3- Free water

4- Don't sell any more parking lots for a dollar

5- Put spittoons everywhere

6- One more liquor store where the soup kitchen currently is, to decrease pedestrian traffic at the corner of Liberty Street and Main Street.

Too Dumb To Steal

Fred Carroll just may be the most accessible candidate for political office in Middletown these days. It's easy to find him in Klekolo World Coffee on Court Street, and he's usually ready for conversation. He is known for his cartoons, his advocacy of homelessness, and his loathing of litter. He created and for three years championed a program called Bums With Brooms, which he recently publicly announced his retirement from, for reasons he explains in this Patch article.

Fred has moved onto new endeavors, most notably running for a seat on the City of Middletown's Common Council with the Realistic Balance Party. He explained to me that “we have no budget and I won't be soliciting nor even accepting any campaign contributions, so I have to access all the free media possible if I want to have any chance of getting elected.” I asked Fred a few questions about his candidacy:

KS: Until recently, many people may not have even heard of the Realistic Balance Party. That combined with the fact that you don't look anything like a politician has me asking, do you honestly think that you have a “realistic” chance of getting elected, or is this just yet another, what's it called? “Issue Campaign”?

FC: No, I do not honestly think that I will get elected to the Common Council, but bear in mind that “long shots” do happen, both in sports and in politics. And as far as this being an “issue campaign”, I'd be nothing but flattered to have what I'm doing called an issue campaign as opposed to merely a vanity campaign.

KS: Speaking of vanity, are those women's pants you're wearing?

FC: Good eye Swartz, yes they are.

KS: What's up with that?

FC: To get the fit I like I have to get my pants from the women's department.

KS: Are you wearing any other articles of women's clothing besides pants?

FC: Nope, just the pants.

KS: On a more serious note, what are your campaign issues?

FC: Well, I'm arguably at least half an expert on what I call urban homelessness. And I think that I have some good ideas about how to deal with the indigents, transients, and idiots.

KS: You have a plan for dealing with, as you call them, idiots?

FC: I don't necessarily have a plan for anything. What I do have are some ideas, which I am certain might be valuable. I have a lot to say about any number of issues, and I will not be afraid to bring my ideas to the Council. Isn't this interview just for introductory purposes and not necessarily for spelling out all the details?

KS: No, I think that voters would like some details, but we can leave those for a later time if you prefer. So barring going into the details, let's get right to the point. Why should any Eye reader vote for you or even take your candidacy seriously?

FC: Well, during the time I've been in Middletown, which is some part of ten years now, I've always had people suggesting that I run for office. They would say things like, “Why don't you run for Mayor, Fred?” And I would always say “Because I'm an idiot, and you wouldn't want me as Mayor.” But people kept saying it, so...

KS: Then why are you running for Council and not Mayor?

FC: Well, we want to be at least slightly “realistic” here. And also I mad support the current Mayor Sebastian Giuliano.

KS: When you say 'mad' you mean 'very much', correct?

FC: You got it Swartz.

KS: My final question is, do you have a campaign slogan?

FC: Yes I do. My campaign slogan is “I'm too dumb to do any serious stealing.”

KS: Well, good luck with all that.

FC: Thanks.

Simmons to Visit Buttonwood Tree Salon

Salon with John Killian and Fred Carroll presents a conversation with Senatorial candidate Rob Simmons, at the Buttonwood Tree, Monday July 27 at 6 PM. Simmons, a former congressman in the 2nd district is a Republican candidate in a race for the seat held by incumbent Chris Dodd.

The Buttonwod Tree is located at 605 Main Street.