Mini Baby Sculptures Not Edible, Selling Like Hotcakes

When I became a parent, many things changed. For example, I started thinking quite a bit about someone else's poo. Also, I now look at babies, both real ones and artistic images, with a very different set of eyes. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that I paid a tad more attention to this headline from a recent press release:

Realistic Miniature Baby Sculptures Are Not Edible

I think that falls under the "Free Beer! Now that I have your attention…" chapter in the PR 101 Handbook.

The subheadline is much more obtuse, but when combined with the opener was intriguing enough to get me to read on:
Accidental Viral Marketing Gives Birth to Instant Success for Canadian Sculptor

So what exactly does this all mean? Basically, a Canadian artist named Camille Allen sells tiny little baby sculptures on eBay. All of a sudden the price on these unique (and, in my opinion, somewhat odd) works went up by 500%. According to the press release, "Recently a 1.5 inch (4 cm) baby named Jaimie sold for $2,650.00 US dollars." Not bad.

Why the price increase? Aren't we in a recession? Apparently it was the result of "a bogus email that turned viral." Someone took the photos of Allen's work from her web site and claimed that they were made of marzipan. As in, something edible. The always-helpful Snopes.com confirms that this was indeed a hoax.

The only thing I find a tad specious about this is the fact that it isn't exactly a new thing. Snopes' entry is dated October 2005. Still, it was new to me, so perhaps it was new to you as well. And we're always up for something weird.

Regardless of when this sales-increasing hoax actually began, I was curious what you, the reader, thought of the little babies. Obviously if they were edible that would be eligible for The Creepiest Thing EVER Award (an award that doesn’t exist but it really should.) Despite the fact that sculptures are not, in fact, food, I still thought they were weird, but the more I look at the picture I have to admit that I find them cute. Not cute enough to purchase, especially not for $US3000. But I can admire the artistry that goes in to making the little…babies…

OK, the fact that they're babies still creeps me out a little bit. Like I said, becoming a parent changes you, at least it did me. So – what do you think of Ms. Allen's art?

Source/Image: mmdnewswire.com