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Ecology Krater II (Out Biking with Aunt Samantha)

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery
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Object Details

Artist
Michael Frimkess, born Los Angeles, CA 1937
Sitter
unidentified
Luce Center Label
Michael Frimkess combines the Greek krater with contemporary subject matter in Ecology Krater II (Out Biking with Aunt Samantha). In the 1960s, Frimkess created a fictitious character, Uncle Sam, who was a Mormon with three wives and two sisters, one of whom was “Aunt Samantha.” Encircling the body of the krater are two bicycles built for four, carrying riders of different ages. On the neck of the pot are images of endangered animals. Frimkess calls his pottery “ethnic melting pots,” making a pun on the diverse neighborhood in East Los Angeles, where he grew up.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance
1976
Object number
1998.6
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Decorative Arts-Ceramic
Crafts
Medium
wheel-thrown and painted stoneware
Dimensions
26 1/4 x 26 x 19 1/2 in. (66.8 x 65.9 x 49.5 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Figure group
Animal
Architecture\vehicle\bicycle
Portrait female\Samantha
Record ID
saam_1998.6
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7a42b71af-ef3c-4366-a2d3-6a7bc4faaadd

Related Content

  • Bicycles

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