Details magazine made my eyes pop when I stumbled upon an old June/July edition featuring St. Louie born artist Erika Iris Simmons. Her "Ghost In The Machine" series are simply amazing. Since her debut in 2008, Erika has found a creatively enticing way to merge pop culture, conceptual art & craftiness. While at the same time recycling once important cassette tapes and film reels.
"The times they ARE a-changin" for sure.
I love the African spray painted tape to coordinate with the Peace Master Rasta himself, Bob Marley.
Oh Fred Astaire! You gotta love a man that has moves. With beautiful Ginger Rogers dancing out of an old 8mm film reel.
Sir Duke Ellington :)
Beethoven. Erika actually tried keeping much of the notes in tact, so you can still read portions of it in his hair, face & jacket.
Simmons also does custom work for people and will include any object that coincides with the portrait that she's doing. A custom job will run you about $1200 and up. 'But every case is different' as she puts it. An average cassette tape portrait 16x20 inches goes for around $1800 and take nearly 2 weeks to create. The price and the wait is worth it if you ask me though. The work is deeply impressive and to have a personal one of yourself and/or a loved one would just be literally stunning.
If you have a chance you absolutely must check out her website for yourself, and please be tempted to inquire about your own custom work.
http://iri5.com/
Kinda sucks they were turned into ads, but the addition of color is nice...
http://www.ibelieveinadv.com/2010/10/guarani-fm-kacophonia-tape/
Posted by: Jawn | 10 November 2010 at 12:23 PM
Oh yess! The color definitely is a wonderful touch.
Posted by: Jenny | 15 November 2010 at 09:46 AM