Linda Bills, Hats On, 1988, tulip poplar bark, twigs, and waxed linen thread, assembled: 8 1⁄2 x 11 3⁄4 x 11 3⁄4 in. (21.6 x 29.8 x 29.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Theodore Cohen in memory of his mother and her sisters: Rose Melmon Cohen, Blanche Melmon, Mary Melmon Greenberg and Fanny Melmon Liberman, 1998.122.3A-B
Copied
Artwork Details
- Title
- Hats On
- Artist
- Date
- 1988
- Location
- Dimensions
- assembled: 8 1⁄2 x 11 3⁄4 x 11 3⁄4 in. (21.6 x 29.8 x 29.8 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Theodore Cohen in memory of his mother and her sisters: Rose Melmon Cohen, Blanche Melmon, Mary Melmon Greenberg and Fanny Melmon Liberman
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- tulip poplar bark, twigs, and waxed linen thread
- Classifications
- Object Number
- 1998.122.3A-B
Artwork Description
Linda Bills made Hats On with pieces of tulip poplar bark, removed from limbs she gathered and rolled inside-out to dry. She created a chipboard scale model first, then used it as a template to cut the bark pieces into the desired finished shapes. Bills used waxed linen thread, reinforced on the interior with small twigs, to stitch the pieces together. The layering of the bark, particularly on the lid, reflects the artist's experience in traditional basket making. Also, the minimalist joinery paired with the lack of finish on the bark's surface highlights the natural features of the material.