What’s on your walls?
June 10th, 2008 by EmmaWhen we moved into the new Emma digs in January, we weren’t sure what to do with all the extra wall space (not to mention other amenities like “more than two restrooms” and “hey, it doesn’t smell weird”). We framed some marketing and campaign creative and put up some of those famous Hatch Show Prints, but when it came to painted stuff, we just didn’t think a corporate art rental program was our style.
Instead, we invited the kids of Emma employees who attend Children’s House Montessori School in Nashville to create the art for us, asking them to look at Emma’s logo and create an entire picture of Emma around it. Another team helped to paint a cityscape. So now we have something of an art gallery to welcome folks who visit the shop, complete with gallery-like descriptions for each work of art. Here’s one for your artistic enrichment, with four more that follow after the jump…
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Emma with Tiny Chicken Arms, and Perfectly Okay About It Watercolor on Canvas A classic study in human and fowl proportion, Tiny Chicken Arms is believed by some art critics to be the first attempt to combine a human body and chicken arms in a blouse that was clearly intended for much larger, non-chicken-like appendages. At first glance, the work appears to feature legs of differing lengths, almost in an accidental way, but note how the subject’s earrings follow the same long-short pattern. Also, the subject has no nose. Patrons interested in further researching the early career of O. Smith can see also: Figure with Large, Bulbous Right Leg and Normal-Sized Left Leg, Four Fingers with Two More Sticking Out of the Wrist Area, and Boy With Unintentional Extra Neck. Artist: Owen Smith (age 5) |
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Emma with Blue Hair and Dark Skirt/Innertube Watercolor on Canvas Hooper is widely considered to be the philosophical leader of the Buoyant Attire movement, a group devoted to furthering the idea of clothes that can also be used as flotation devices. In this particular work, it’s as if the subject is saying, I can stand here possibly waving at you, or I can tube down Category Four rapids if the mood strikes me. Many believe the artist’s later effort, Look At Me, Now I’m Tubing Down Category Four Rapids, may be the logical companion piece to this canvas. Innertube is not without controversy, as some scholars question its inclusion in the Buoyant Attire movement. They point to the artist’s use of a dinner napkin – already tucked in – as a clear nod to the Post-Tubing Cheese Crackers movement, a splinter artist group fervently opposed to the idea of tubing without proper snacks. They are based out of Nebraska. Artist: Maggie Hooper (age 4) |
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Emma in Purply Gown and Red Gloves or Possibly Smeared Cupcake Watercolor on Canvas Known for her work in carefully arranging wood blocks, artist Julia Spessard displays her versatility with Emma in Purply Gown, her first foray into painting, or, in her words, “making pretty pretty.” With its use of heavy brush strokes, serious tone and tiny nose, Gown is at once a commentary on the absurdity of society life and a challenge to the world of fashion designers, namely to make more things that are purple - a theme that would resurface in J. Spessard’s subsequent oil series, My Purple Daddy and His Giraffe, Which is Also Purple. Artist: Julia Spessard (age 3) |
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Emma in Slightly Mannish Sweater Suit Watercolor on Canvas Part of the watercolor series Sweaters: Not As Ladylike As You Might Think, Slightly Mannish is generally considered to be artist Woods Spessard’s most important work, following on the heels of the somewhat less regarded efforts Half Flower, Inside My Nose and Orange-y Blob. Note the use of the horizontal lines, earth tones, and large, gangly google-y eyes favored by artists of this period (i.e., the period right after nap time and before plastic stove baking time). Discerning viewers may also spot the subtle influences of Van Gogh, Cézanne, and the Dress Barn’s winter line, circa 1997. Artist: Woods Spessard (age 5) |
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Future, and Possibly Architecturally Unstable, City Watercolor on canvas One of three works in the series Whimsical Buildings You Might Not Want to Stand Underneath, Future City re-imagines the modern skyline in vivid blues, yellows, reds, and the ever-popular architectural color Bubblegum Pink. The work blends whimsy and irreverence to create an abstract paradise for everyone but building inspectors, window makers, and the poor sap who rented the elevator-less rocket-launcher penthouse. Artists: The boys and girls of Children’s House Montessori (ages 3 through 6) |
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June 10th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
This is pure brilliance. I told everyone I know about it, because, hey, if I have to pee my pants, so should everyone else!
June 10th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I actually bid on BWUEN (Boy With Unintentional Extra Neck) while attending an auction at Lloyds of Franklin. After a heated match of quick reflexes and ballyhoo, I was outbid by an older woman who I believe was O. Smith’s grandmother. In short, it is a brilliant piece (although not as dynamic as chicken arms).
June 11th, 2008 at 4:12 am
“Haaaa-larious!”
Megan Hyatt, thanks for the link to this post, an unexpected “treasure” discovered today.
Also, I absolutely love the idea of Kid Art. Someone needs to open a studio where people can bring their kids, who don’t go to that fantastic Montessori school, to paint masterpieces for their parent’s homes or offices.
Sooooo creative!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Brilliant writing! Loved every word! My mom (Gail Hyatt) read it to my dad, sister, and I last night at the dinner table. Thought it would be incredibly boring until she started reading and we couldn’t get enough! Loved it!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Brilliant. If I ever decide to take up painting I hope you’ll be the first to review my work.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Laughing out loud and crying my eyes out! Brilliant piece of work. THIS is why I love myemma!
July 19th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Those are the best reviews I have ever read. Thanks for sharing the paintings. I have children that age, and now I’ll be looking at their work in a whole new way.