That Spiked Bat in the Street? It's Art

Matthew Bajda’s sociological study in the streets of San Francisco offers a window into collective fear.

July 12, 2016, 5:50pm

Spiked bat chained to parking meter in The Mission District of San Francisco, Thanksgiving 2015. Photo courtesy of the artist

Gold plated and engraved, these spiked baseball bats are recreations of the bats artist Matthew Bajda originally chained to poles and placed around San Francisco. In his latest show at The Growlery curated by Michael Kershnar, the artist challenges media-fed fears plaguing American society in Mace of Disruption: A Perspective on American Safety.

“It is difficult to recognize, let alone confront, one’s own fears,” Bajda tells The Creators Project. “Rational discussion is a rarity when it comes to topics of which we are fearful: ironically we are often afraid to present our true beliefs lest we offend by being outliers. Art offers a solution. Street art in particular is well-suited, with its universal ease of access and it’s ready connection to some of our society’s fears.”

Gold Bat 24K gold plated and engraved spiked bat. Image courtesy of the artist

Although the shortness of the chains restricts the probability of anyone using them as legitimate weapons, the possibility alone is an undeniable spark. “Anyone could have picked up one of the bats and used them against someone, but it would have been difficult as I made the length of the chains a bit short for a good healthy swing,” says Bajda.

The exhibit in San Francisco, which opened on June 3, displayed the bats accompanied by black-and-white photographs. The installations created a dialog on fear and violence. “I wanted people to think about their own personal boundaries of safety when they encountered the bat in person specifically, and not seeing a photo somewhere on the internet. Then hopefully think deeper into what sort of fear tactics are being used by media in order to sway them in a certain direction.”

Spiked bat chained to parking meter in The Mission District of San Francisco, Thanksgiving 2015. Photo courtesy of the artist

The bats became the artist’s own social experiment. Bajda explored the reactions and responses to his works: “I think Americans are more fear based than others, but we are also more violent prone than other countries,” he explains. While Bajda believes that fear is a healthy emotion for breaking barriers and personal advancement, he also thinks that unwarranted fear is not beneficial.

“Anyone can stick bolts through a bat, but not everyone has the resources or gall to have a bat gold plated and engraved,” says Bajda. “That also lends the blurring of lines between what is considered a piece of art and a deadly weapon.”