"Buttons" Found Art Nov 28, 2006

"Para muestra basta un boton" is a saying in Spanish that can be translated as "You may know by the handful the whole sack" And as I was thinking about buttons this week (a topic that was suggested by someone else) this saying kept coming to my mind again and again until it all made sense. These pieces of art I'm leaving are a little sample of the work I do, a little handful of the sack that is my art, also this week was so difficult for me to make something with all my stuff packed away that it took some determination to make something and not quit the project. So in a way this is a statement to not quiting!

I tried something really different this week, a little assemblage box with an altoids tin box that I painted (I dug out some things to work with, here's a picture of what I used for this project , just one bottle of cream colored paint, one brush, a Mexican cien pesos bill (from 1981) and some buttons. The buttons are all sewn to the paper and I loved to alter this cien pesos bill, these were around when I was growing up and cien pesos was a lot of money back in 1981 so to me they are really valuable because of my memories of being a kid and having 100 pesos. I would feel more than rich, I would feel I could buy anything in the world...

I painted the altoids tin box and wrote "Para muestra basta un boton" on the outside, and on the inside there's a note I wrote explaining what this box means.

And how with this box there are two people that don't know each other but are connected by it and by the message of not giving up on your projects.

I'm thinking of interesting places to leave this, and I'm still not sure what I'll do, I've thought about putting it in someone's grocery cart in the supermarket or leaving it in a parked car's windshield, or even taped to a lamp post, I don't know yet but I will definitely keep you posted!

thanks for reading.

Update on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 12:00PM by Rosa Murillo

Go see Kathy LaRocco's contribution for the projet this week, "Red eye" the textures and layers are really interesting!

Comments

[Octavio]

Que buena idea!! que padre regalo!!
ese billete lo hicieron cuando yo tenía 1 año de edad!
tienas las manos blancas blancas, como que frias... traes chamarra, pero usa los guantes!!
y si hacemos cajitas asi para los regalos de sorteo de navidad???? que tal???

Paz
Octavio

[Delia]

I don't think I have commented on your blog before...but, I have been reading along with your found art process and find it SO amazing. Just the IDEA that someone could find something so beautiful and meaningful is a gift. Your work is so open-hearted and lovely...I had to comment and let you know how it inspires me!

[Kathy L]

Rosa

I wonder how your altoid tin would have looked with more materials! You are incredible! I love the box and what a nice message! Hopefully you will hear from whoever finds it!

k

[alina]

beautiful arts and idea!

[mrsb]

i have to agree that finding one of your pieces would be like finding treasure, truly one of a kind and just wonderful! i would love to do something like this, i really need to make the time to do it...but, i did give someone my number while waiting in line, because i had to leave joann fabrics. it's not treasury art, but still kinda nice ; ) beautiful job, rosa!