Froot Loop Chuck

Five months ago, I was at home with my wife and she was eating a bowl of Kellogg’s brand Froot Loops breakfast cereal. She likes that sugary cereal. At the time I had been working with odd mediums such as Crayola and Play-Doh, real childish stuff. So my wife thought it fitting that she alert me of the craft ideas that were advertised on the back of her Froot Loop box. Among the craft ideas was the idea of making “Froot Loop Sculpture”. Now for some reason, one that I have yet to understand, as soon as I saw that box I thought of Chuck Close.

About a week after that, I was out at the bar with my good friend, and fellow artist, Jason Szalla. I told him, between the bourbon and the thoughts of making a Mary Boone portrait, that I was considering making a Froot Loop portrait of Chuck Close. His response was that I should make it as soon as possible because an idea like that would be made no matter what, and if not by me by someone else.

The next day, a friend of mine named Ernie said almost the exact same thing. They convinced me that I had really stumbled onto something, and that I needed to begin as soon as possible.

Now, to make a piece that copies Chuck required total perfection and realism on a grand scale. Anything less would be an insult to Mr. Close, and my intention with this piece is far more tribute than insult no matter how you view the concept. I knew that the making of a Froot Loop Chuck would take countless hours, endless boxes of Froot Loops, and patience unlike anything I have ever done.

22,680 Froot Loops and five months later the piece is complete.

“Froot Loop Chuck” is 10’ x 8’, Kellogg’s brand Froot Loop breakfast cereal on canvas. It is composed of four 5’ x 4’ canvases which are bound together by steel plates in the back. The piece is so large, that to photograph it in my studio, I had to turn it on it side. “Froot Loop Chuck” will be displayed at Magnan Projects in Chelsea on June 22^nd for the “Binge and Purge” show (http://www.magnanprojects.com).

Daddy Mike

Hello Crateart fans,

When I started this blog, I promised myself that I would not add personal information to its contents, except for brief descriptions where personal life was expressed in artwork. Well, I just can't hold it back.

My first child, Paul Marcel Elias, was born April 26th at 2:30 am. I am very happy to be a daddy, and little Paul will have plenty of Crayola Crayons and Play Doh to play with when he gets a little older.

I just began returning to the studio the past couple of days. Froot Loop Chuck is almost done now. I will be finished with that project, and have a crate built for it, in the next two weeks. Very soon (June/July), this blog will take a new dynamic, as I will not be working in galleries, handling artwork, much longer. As my life and my art mature so will this blog. Soon the aspect of earning money and juggling artwork will be replaced with raising a family, being a stay at home dad, and STILL juggling artwork. I can't wait. I can't sleep either because Paul loves being awake all night, but that's another topic.

Here's a couple of pictures of my boy.

That's it, no more personal stuff, just Crateart.