Tin Can Art
When I was in elementary school in Darien Connecticut, my favorite classes were Gym and Art. I was an extreme tomboy with such short hair, I was often called a little boy. Many times when “sides” were chosen – yup, gym teacher would assign two captains to pick students for teams – I would be one of the first picked. I was scrappy, tough and very fast. How times have changed! Not scrappy. Not very fast, and definitely not short hair. What hasn’t changed is my love of art.
The art teacher was a funky young woman who created all sorts of fun projects. As this was 1976, one group project was sewing red, white and blue quilt squares into a large quilt for a fundraiser for the school. I managed to sew my block right onto my pants, so my first foray into quilting certainly was not highly successful. Another project was using myriad supplies, scraps and junk the teacher collected, to build a sculpture. I built an Eskimo, using a large coffee can and fur fabric scraps. The art teacher liked it so much, she used it on the cover of a “catalogue” she created for the school-wide art show that Spring. I still regret it was long since thrown away –one of those things I wish I had kept as it was a charming “child” art project. I have kept many of my children’s projects, and some day they may appreciate having them. Or not – but at least they can decide.
When I saw this little guy at the thrift shop I had to bring him home. He reminded me of my missing Eskimo, and he is so clearly a child’s art project he makes me smile. Complete with the tin can body! Instead of using fabric for clothing, the child used papier-mâché, building up his body and hat in one go, and plunking a nose on his face. The swinging arms were added using a nail covered over with a button. The artist then painted the sailor, including his white scarf and pink cheeks. My favorite is the pins used for his eyes and mouth, and the snazzy blue ribbon hat brim. He has some sadnesses, including a crack down his front, but he fits right in my son’s childhood sailing theme bedroom, now a guest room.
Don’t give me a theme as my OCD nature means I hold onto them for ages, in this case over 25 years. While my son has moved to his own home, taking many of his childhood room’s items, I still find sailing themed treasures to add to the room. Thankfully he and his wife have created a sea theme bathroom with a kraken shower curtain, so some of my finds end up sailing to Colorado. My children are stuck with my memories of their childhood loves, and it is hard not to continue to give them packages full of treasures. As they are grown and married, I have to show some refrain, though any treasure that doesn’t speak to them is allowed to move on in the world. But, mind you, refrain is a comparative term. And my favorite adage? One man’s trash is another’s treasure. Thrift shops are amazing depositories that reflect this – and some of the items I come across, both art and quilts, astonish me. I understand holding onto all those family mementos isn’t always possible, but such a little guy as this? How could a mother part with him?!