Juan Gris (1887 – 1927), a master of disguised images, presents a table brimming with coffee cups, stemmed wineglasses, a large white-footed fruit compote (see from the side and from above) containing thickly painted grapes, a bottle of red wine, a bottle of Bass extra stout ale with its distinctive red diamond logo, a newspaper, and a guitar. Yet, Still Life with Checked Tablecloth (1915) has another equally compelling identity: a Bull’s head. The coffee cup at lower center doubles as the animal’s snout, black-and-white concentric circle at left is a “bull’s eye,” the bottle of ale is an ear, and the sinuous edge of the guitar is the horn. The letters “EAU” on the wine label, which ostensibly stand for “bEAUjolais” can just as easily represent “taurEAU” (Bull).
Photographed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC
All Photos By Gail (Click on Any Image to Enlarge for Detail)
I have to thank my friend Andrew for turning me on to The Button Show; a super fun exhibit that’s up now at Rush Arts Gallery. Curated by Peter “Souleo” Wright, The Button Show features sculptures and other artworks created using regular clothing buttons, incorporated with other found objects, to create unique art that is delightful to behold.
Io Palmer, Buttoned Up Cloud
On display are the works of 11 artists who each work with buttons either as the dominant medium or a featured element in their sculpture, photography and wearable artworks. Participating artists include veteran Button Artists Amalia K. Amaki, Beau McCall and Lisa Kokin.
Lisa Kokin, Sleep
Lisa Kolin uses buttons, chicken wire, thread and spray paint to create sculptures that obliterate the surface of otherwise easily recognizable objects.
Lisa Kokin, Rescue
Lisa Kokin, Party Hat Diabolique
I think this is my favorite piece by her. It’s easy to see some of the other tiny objects — 45 RPM records, doll parts, toys, belt buckles, tiny souvenir license plates, clock faces — that are part of these very fun artworks.
This one, called Piecework, actually takes on more shape when seen from a distance.
Detail From Piecework
Curator Souleo offers, “I am proud to help highlight the medium of clothing buttons in visual art. Clothing buttons occupy a familiar but seemingly insignificant presence in our lives. Each artist forces us to reimagine this everyday object as a viable tool for communication and self-expression through visual art. In these works, buttons become signifiers of issues of class, politics, race, beauty and personal narratives in ways that are visually stimulating and highly engaging.”
Camilla Taylor, They’ve Already Left
These spider-like sculptures, covered with iridescent black buttons, remind me very much of the work of Louise Bourgeois.
Beau McCall, World Spinnin’ on a 45
When I look at this oversize Record Adapter, I wonder how many people under 20 even know what this is, or what it was used for. Nostalgia!
World Spinnin Detail
This gorgeous Red Bathtub is called Dark Musk Oil Egyptian Crystals & Florida Water/ Red Potion no.1 (but in all lower case letters, and no spaces between the words), and it is by Beau McCall. Created from Buttons, fabric, and thread over a cast iron tub, this is the show stopper.
So beautiful.
Domino Kool (Hood Classic I)
Beau McCall also created this stunning representation of a Pitcher of Kool-Aid Dink Mix being poured into a glass.
I love how he uses clear buttons to represent the ice.
Tablet Arm Desk
The Message: ABCDEFU. Yes.
The Button Show will be on Exhibit Through March 12th, 2016 at Rush Arts Gallery, Located at 526 West 26th Street, Suite 311, in the Chelsea Gallery District.
Halloween is coming up in just a few weeks, and I know you have a long list of supplies to buy for all of your partying needs. Here’s one to cross off that list right now: the Eye On You Light Up Eyeball Wine Bottle Stopper. This thing is so cool, why save it for Halloween? Why not make it your every day wine bottle stopper?
Eye On You Features:
Metal Bottle Stopper shaped like a Glass Eyeball
Eyeball lights up with LED light (battery included)
Eyeball comes in three colors: Orange, Green and Blue
Fits most wine bottles – rubber ring provides a tight seal
Size: 1-1/2″ dia. x 4″
How can you even live without one of these, knowing it will set you back a mere $12.95? Buy yours now at This Link! (Sadly, this item has been discontinued)
Oh my! I love how this Wine Bottle Stopper makes it look as if a little zombie arm is reaching up from the neck of your wine bottle! Scary! Do you need to own one? The details are below:
Wine bottle cork or bottle stopper shaped like a zombie hand rising from the ground
Exquisite level of gory details – handcrafted by local indie artists
Material: tough urethane resin and cork
Unique: no two are exactly alike – paint details may vary as it is handpainted
Size: 1-1/4″ dia. x 5″ (3 cm dia. x 12.5 cm) Fits most wine bottles
