This is a little different than what you are used to seeing at The Napkin.  But it is something I created for a charity auction and thought you might like to see it. It is titled ‘The Singing Inside’ and consists of the painted body cast set inside a frame made from the wood of an old piano. It is a lamp as well, with a rope light wound around the two supports holding the cast in place.

Here is the story. I was asked to participate in a breast cancer charity auction. ‘Breast Impressions’ of Tulsa and its founder, Judy Grove, created body casts of various celebrities in the Tulsa area. Artist’s around town then ‘adopted’ a cast, painted it and put it up for auction with the proceeds going to the charity. I adopted this one. I had no idea who the model was and the rule is the artist wouldn’t know unless the model actually wanted it to be known.  In this case the model, a well known TV news reporter, and I knew each other and when she found out I was the artist that had picked her piece she contacted me and let me know it was her. That added a cool personal element to creating the image. I thought about her personality and character and it helped form my ideas for the piece.

It started out as just a plain white plaster of paris cast of her torso. That was given to me with no restrictions on what I could do with it.  I had done some sculptures years before that used translucent mannequin bodies. In those I had ended up making one into a lamp so I had thought I would try that in this instance as well.

Here is a close up of the painting with two of my oldest and favorite characters, Talking Turtle and Singing Snake.  I also included on of my recurring images, a volcano. It seemed perfect for the idea of something coming from the inside.

I even got an engraved title plate for the piece.

I figured it was almost like a person so it should be buckled up for the trip to the exhibition site.  If it had a head I might have been tempted to drive in the HOV lane!

It was on display at the Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa, Oklahoma in September and October of 2009. The auction took place in the center court of the mall and was a great success.  My piece was purchased by a wealthy donor who then gave it to the Abbie, the woman who initially modeled for the piece. She still proudly displays it in her home.

Artwork by Marty Coleman