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Artist Makes Art From "Iconic Symbol": MetroCards!
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 18, 2011
Modified Jan 18, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 18, 2011
Modified Jan 18, 2011
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MetroCards: the $104 canvas. Another artist has set out to recreate the little, yellow, different pieces of plastic, turning them in to bird's nests, brooms and even self portraits. Subway Art Blog points to cardist Thomas McKean, who says, "we barely notice them; they’re as omnipresent and invisible as pigeons. I stopped to look at them one day and haven’t looked back yet. In their limited palette, I’ve found an expanding world of images, colors, ideas. Mosaics, collages, portraits, abstracts, constructions, dioramas, combination drawing and collages, all these keep pouring forth from this little object, not much bigger than two by three inches." He collects the cards all over town, and says, "Perhaps because I’m from New York, and this is my world, without setting out to, I’m creating a world from one of its iconic symbols.”
A few of his pieces will be on display at the 32nd Annual Small Works Show, from January 31st to March 13th at 80 Washington Square East Galleries.
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art
metrocards
Thomas McKean
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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