HUMOR IN CRAFT

The exhibition Humor in Craft opened at the Society of Contemporary Craft July 20,2012. I so wish that I could be there! What a hoot! Curated by Brigitte Martin, the exhibition is based on the book she authored by the same name Humor in Craft.

Get the book from your local library or bookstore to see silly, serendipity, superfluous or simply entertaining interpretations of humor. Nothing is expected or ordinary. The full color book includes 235 makers.

There are several catalog essays from a wide range of authors. A round of applause to everyone that attempted to write about humor. What a challenge!  I found the essay by Garth Johnson memorable as he offered historical background on humor in ceramics.

Below a selctions of work from the book:

"Corncorde" by Craig Nutt
Installed at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport


Sweet Tooth Necklace by Sanna Svedestedt

Team Mobiloil, by Donna M. McCullough

 

There are many more fabulous pieces.
Get the book. There is something for everyone!

I am thrilled to say I have several pieces in the book Humor in Craft. Womanizer Kitchen Queen (1982) is included in the exhibition Humor in Craft.

The blender body and lid are all painted copper construction. Essentially, I fabricated by hand a manufactured object as a commentary about our consumer society. Carefully constructed using sheet metal the appliances are not found objects.

The ballerina inside the transparent plastic blender container pirouettes to a wind-up music box playing "May Your Wish Come True".   (15" height x 5" width x 5.5" depth)


A custom made pierced crown on the top of the blender container says: Misstress of the Home. Misstress is misspelled intentionally. I wanted the "MISS" to refer to the Miss America style of beauty competitions. It is also autobiographical as my name "Harriete" means "mistress of the home". Imagine that!  Yes, it's true!  I AM kind of obsessive about my house. No Kidding. Come and visit. 

Womanizer, Kitchen Queen has a 10 Button Panel with a plastic lamination. There is brass lettering on the front. The small black lettering says: LOVE, HONOR, OBEY, CHERISH, MIX, BLEND, STIR, CREAM, SPREAD, BEAR.

This appliance is one appliance from a series of appliances made from 1980 - 1988.  (scroll down on the sculputure page to see all the appliances.)

Immediately below is a SlideShare presentation with audio about how I designed and packed this work for shipping.

 

 

Custom Shipping Box /Design Your Work for Shipping by Harriete Estel Berman from Harriete Estel Berman