bottle caps

bottle caps http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html Plastic bottle caps - like bags, a plastic product that can’t be/ isn’t recycled. I conceived of an “endless column” of these caps, after Constantin Brancusi’s iconic modernist sculpture. One became two, and two became many. While making these columns, I noticed the smaller caps tended to nest inside one another, and the color combinations reminded me of Chuck Close’s painted portraits. So I got sidetracked and started on a large self-portrait (which I titled CLOSE)made entirely of bottle caps. The piece measures 8 feet by 7 feet. No paint is used, except to delineate a few shadows where white board was showing through. In a few cases, the caps are trimmed in order to fit a tight space. “My Eye,” which at 30” x 38” is about 5 times the detail of the eye in my large self-portrait. The newest work in this series are Endless Columns created for an installation at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, which are mounted on metal rods and planted in the ground. I will be displaying them in Orebro Sweden at their OpenART festival in summer 2013. See my “How To...” page if you want to try this. My Eye, 2012 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#0 7c3cbada-8634-4b1a-97eb-2638303f065e http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8604/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8604/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">My Eye, 2012</p></div></div> CLOSE, 2011 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#1 390df64f-d6d6-4f53-ab10-77ca47cd148d http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5741/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5741/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">CLOSE, 2011</p></div></div> me and “CLOSE” http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#2 12d14c95-8cc5-4205-b0b1-1dd39c9b935b http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5743/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5743/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">me and “CLOSE”</p></div></div> detail - nose http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#3 cd8211ef-ac74-4b87-b656-7bb52aff42d0 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5627/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5627/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">detail - nose</p></div></div> The hard part: washing and sanitzing each cap. http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#4 9b5fa593-c433-443f-910e-c84c07e4e98b http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9461/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9461/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The hard part: washing and sanitzing each cap.</p></div></div> My palette http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#5 d16a1d2f-db65-44a0-9f60-6161bbbc450f http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4863/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4863/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">My palette</p></div></div> nested caps/eye http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#6 1bc458e4-3a01-4af6-bf6c-a8f666ccb385 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4486/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4486/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">nested caps/eye</p></div></div> CLOSE in progress http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#7 53497ad4-4979-4fda-9821-9cb884b67390 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4882/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4882/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">CLOSE in progress</p></div></div> at work http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#8 e8f23a96-e2db-4a3c-8701-ce435c2d73c6 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/IMG_5054/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/IMG_5054/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">at work</p></div></div> at Art On Armitage, May 2011 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#9 c288c063-a5d0-4dc5-a4e2-293e7b71ba17 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5757/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5757/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">at Art On Armitage, May 2011</p></div></div> October 2012, cover of Where Chicago Magazine http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#10 212395d1-4caf-498a-85c7-a32285c0c623 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8925/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8925/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">October 2012, cover of <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Where Chicago Magazine</p></div></div> Endless Columns, 2010 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#11 f71773a1-c0f7-4a77-8c0d-53248418b295 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4561/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF4561/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Endless Columns, 2010</p></div></div> Endless Columns, 2011-13 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#12 30d6c134-bff4-42f5-b006-36b73bb1555f http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5986/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5986/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Endless Columns, 2011-13</p></div></div> endless details http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#13 0ba6dd50-7c04-420c-9724-11f1b9b429f9 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5999/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF5999/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">endless details</p></div></div> detail - Endless Columns http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#14 e07229ca-4287-4d5d-8017-4c55633d6137 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF6704/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF6704/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">detail - Endless Columns</p></div></div> Columbia College Bookstore, Dec 2011 - Jan 2012 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#15 868a7ef9-c6ef-42cd-98ed-5f6150521e92 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8253/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8253/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Columbia College Bookstore, Dec 2011 - Jan 2012</p></div></div> 628 S Michigan, Chicago Dec 2011 - Jan 2012 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#16 60530f17-0fb5-4889-a200-07975af6983b http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8251/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8251/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">628 S Michigan, Chicago<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Dec 2011 - Jan 2012 </p></div></div> Garfield Park Conservatory Chicago, Aug - Dec 2012 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#17 cdd78242-a0d8-4bf0-b426-056f39032c83 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8755/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8755/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"> Garfield Park Conservatory<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Chicago, Aug - Dec 2012</p></div></div> My assistant, Alicia http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#18 d570ee4d-fd81-4549-8b83-a44d077ea565 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8754/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF8754/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">My assistant, Alicia</p></div></div> Dittmar Gallery, Northwestern University, April 2013 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#19 4da88c03-76b1-44fd-8eaa-6e173f05051a http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9865/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9865/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Dittmar Gallery, Northwestern University, April 2013</p></div></div> Illinois State Museum, Chicago Oct 2012 - Feb 3013 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#20 a88f702d-06d3-411b-a7ab-ad3123d96a4b http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9224/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9224/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Illinois State Museum, Chicago<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Oct 2012 - Feb 3013</p></div></div> Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago Jan - March 2013 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#21 ee7fe1eb-00ae-4a72-a450-1eda58a350a2 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9477/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9477/micro.jpg

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_182_35"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Jan - March 2013</p></div></div> In the collection of Eye Spy Optical, Chicago http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps.html#22 8ea4e605-1cae-4b22-b2f3-b9ae66556459 http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9485/thumb.jpg http://www.maryellencroteau.net/mec_website/galleries/Pages/bottle_caps_files/Media/DSCF9485/micro.jpg

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