F ³: In a Roundabout Way

Columbia has pools, parks, and pathways. We have concerts at the lakefront. We have a mall instead of a Main Street, community mailboxes, villages and village centers, interfaith centers, creative street signs and cul de sacs.

But…

We do not have these. Roundabout dogs.

A roundabout dog (Swedish: rondellhund) is a form of street installation and public phenomenon that began in Sweden in autumn of 2006, when anonymous people began placing homemade dog sculptures in the center of roundabouts.

I am not kidding. It is definitely a thing. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself. Here are just a few I found during a search on Google images.

This is not a contest or some sort of community sponsored activity. Roundabout dogs occurred spontaneously and appear at the whim of the public. No rules, requirements, or specifications.

I’m not sure Columbia could handle anything as Free Form as that. Baltimore has its Salt Boxes. We’re not even allowed to decorate fire hydrants.

Still, I’d be tickled if something this organic and whimsical arose in Columbia/HoCo. It probably wouldn’t be roundabout dogs. Cul de sac cats?

In a place where some folks managed to get themselves in a lather over an eggplant and a peach, the thought of artistic expression with out prior permission might just be too much.

What do you think?

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