This match stick dollar sign art was made for the current Chicago Art Department $200 exhibition. This is a collaboration between Nathan and I. I first wanted to make art with balsa sticks, specifically a skeletal framed apple. This idea came from my architecture model making days. I love making models out of sticks. However, now that I am out of school and out of work, my resources are limited and balsa wood sticks can get expensive. As an alternative, Nathan suggested that I use match sticks. They can be found at Home Depot, 750 count for approximately $4. Thus I began making things out of matches. The first few were apple and letters, to be spelled out into words. Every time when I finish making one, we badly wanted to burn it immediately. This first finished 7″ x 9.25″, match sticks on poplar piece is called Temptation. I actually made two, one for the show and another for us to burn. We took photos of the burning as a visual tease for the unburn piece. For me, the value of $200 is a temptation. It is Nathan’s temptation of blowing it all away one night at the strip club.
Pei! This is genius. You are still hands down, one of the most creative people I know. Keep up the amazing work!