"Washingtonians encountered an unusual public art installation on some streets recently. From the outside, they looked like ordinary portable toilets. But they'd been retrofitted as listening booths, presenting works of 'found sound' art -- sounds manipulated to intrigue the ear."

"'If you go inside a gallery, you don't really have the time or space to reflect on sound,' says 'Found Sound' curator Welmoed Laanstra. 'There are always people walking in and out. And so we came up with the idea of a porta-potty, which is very affordable.'"

"Ms. Laanstra covered up the sinks and toilets in five such booths placed around downtown, and added red cushions and gauzy white curtains. 'And it's not a porta-potty anymore, as you can tell,' she says. 'It's more a sound cabin.'"

I can only imagine the comments from other PoopReporters. Surely art lovers would have found better surprises (or should I say, pieces) if the potties were actually functional. Background chamber music, lovely curtains, fuzzy carpet... who wouldn't want to do their business in that spot? I wonder if they've had issues with people uncovering the toilet holes -- who could resist doing it in such a conducive atmosphere?

Turns out the installations closed last weekend. At least you can watch this video report.