Unusual pair of pictures

Okay, I'm drawn to "one of a kind" so when I saw the first picture at my local thrift, the lady with the towel or whatever she is holding, I thought: Perfect for the bathroom! Then I saw the companion piece, and couldn't break up the set. Outer frame on each measures 8x10". I admit they are odd, didn't spend much but figured I'd never see another set quite like this. Chewing gum art?

These seem to be created on some kind of re-purposed board as the board shows old nail (?) holes off to the side. Sutter Place Interiors in Lincoln Nebraska (both have that label) is still in business. Their website didn't advertise framing so both believe these would have been sold in the frames just like this, as decorative pieces. They must have some story. What do you think?

 

You must have better beer than me

 

Whoa....... I think that the frames had something "better" in them at one time.

 

We do have excellent beer where I live -- 58 craft breweries in our county alone. But I was totally sober when I purchased these at the GW.

I have a feeling these have a story, maybe a 90 year old blind man made them or something... The labels are on the brown backing paper, so for whatever reason these were sold at this Interior Design store in these frames. I'm tempted to write Sutter Place to see if there is some back story.

 

You're not likely to find another pair like that. I wonder if they are bubble gum.

 

Um... Wow.

I hope you do write to Sutter Place. I'd love to know what the story is.

 

Hi Lucille! I think Bob could be correct, does it feel like (chewed) bubble gum?

The lady with the white towel appears to be examining a bruise on her thigh. The other lady appears to be wearing red glasses.

I hope you write to Sutter too. Please tag me on their response.

 

(Lucille suggested it might be chewing gum. I was just agreeing.)

 

The other lady......looks to be a man !

 

Apparently chewed gum art is not that uncommon! Who knew!

https://www.google.com/search?q=art...ADQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1036&bih=569&dpr=1.62

 

Good grief, gum art? Learn something new every day! I was sort of kidding when I mentioned gum. It does look like thick paint actually, but the effect is sort of "gum like".

It also occurred to me that Sutter Place might do custom framing. It isn't advertised as a service on their website, but doesn't mean they don't do it.

I think it is a man in the 2nd picture. Guessing this is an older married couple.

I do plan to contact the place. I know these are "rough" looking, but I'll tell you what sold me. That they are done on this old looking re-purposed board. Almost like it was from a barn or something. It just suggested that there was a story somewhere. And I think it was a nice touch of the set that the two backings are a different color.

I will definitely post any info I learn. I think Sutter Interiors has been around for a while, these could even be 20 years old or better, so they might not be able to help, but I'll give it a shot. I know these aren't masterpieces, but anything that has me saying, "What in the world?" and costs less than a pint of beer seems to wind up in my personal collection for at least a while.

 

Just going to throw out a couple of ideas as to material, but doubtful either is correct. My first thought was some sort of dough like the salt dough kids arts & crafts use to make Xmas ornaments. The material looks to shiny for salt dough. Silly putty was another thought because it is shinier, but don't know if it would harden.

--- Susan

 

As far as I know, Silly Putty only hardens when it has been squashed into a carpet.

 

She looks like a ballerina, which would explain the bruises; dancers usually have one somewhere. The guy looks seriously hung over. Or woman. Or whatever it is.

 

Chewed gum art...ewww...

 

There's a famous alley in some major city that has thousands of gum wads on the walls. It's some kind of tradition.

I had to look it up. It's called Bubblegum Alley and it's in San Luis Obispo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubblegum_Alley

 

There's also the "Gum Wall" in Post Alley just off Pike Place market here in Seattle.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gum_Wall

 

I cringe to think of it.