Descent into the FOUNS Madness

Some stories start with a whimper, others with a goddamn paint can kicked over in the tropical heat. Down in Brazil, a character named Nick Haaz decided early April was the perfect time to inflict his vision upon an unsuspecting public. The whispers started on April 7th: "Have you heard of FOUNS?" he asked the digital void, tossing out images of bizarre red, Noggle-eyed structures. Some looked like abstract art, others had a dog – presumably a stray, the target audience – sniffing around what appeared to be food and water bowls built into these concrete beasts.

Moments later, the declaration: "Lets start the maintenance." The accompanying snapshot showed the guts of the operation: more red cubes on paint-splattered plywood, brushes at the ready. This wasn't just talk; Haaz was getting his hands dirty. The same day, he clarified the manic energy, dropping an "Update Mission of StrayStrong Nouns Feeder" – something about "Empowering communities to care for stray dogs with unique, eco-friendly art pieces." Art for dogs? Empowerment via concrete? The beautiful absurdity was taking shape.

Paint Fumes and Progress

The work cranked on. By April 8th, Haaz announced, "The restoration had started today," with a Friday deadline looming like a tropical storm. The next day, a progress report: "The painture looks sweet. Ill try to waterproof today to keep the movement." An image confirmed it – those strange red boxes, interiors half black, half white, sitting on stained plywood, surrounded by the detritus of creation. This wasn't some theoretical exercise; it was happening, layer by painful layer of paint and sealant.

Someone, somewhere, inevitably asked what the hell is this? Haaz obliged on April 10th, explaining FOUNS as "a public art project, Nounish-inspired feeders for stray dogs... Designed to feed animals while inviting people to reflect, connect, and care." He admitted it was all still cooking: "It is currently in its testing phase. We’re exploring different materials, designs, and installation spots... adapting... to make each piece sustainable and long-lasting." He was building strange monuments to stray dogs, testing them in the wild laboratory of the city streets.

A Mascot for the Mongrels

Then, a sign that this fever dream was contagious. On April 12th, Haaz tipped his hat: "special thanks to [redacted], now FOUNS has a mascot! Chico got a real true tribute." A community collaboration, the second one already. Even concrete dog feeders, it seems, need a face, a symbol. Chico – whoever or whatever Chico truly represents – became the spectral figurehead for Haaz's burgeoning army of red boxes. The project wasn't just Haaz wrestling with materials anymore; it was pulling others into its weird orbit, spawning mascots, building something beyond just feeders. It was raw, messy, and undeniably happening. The dogs might not know art, but maybe, just maybe, they'd appreciate a full belly served from a piece of it.