Pearle Northrop

Artist Statement
It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started taking what I do seriously and it took even longer to consider myself an artist. I love to paint whatever I can get my hands on from things as small as a Scrabble® piece to as big as a dresser and hopefully even bigger someday. Whatever it is I will paint it. I love transforming trash into treasure literally. Imagine that a chair that came from a dumpster (2006) made it into a museum (2009). It blows me away to think that something I did creates a sense of awe in a viewer’s eye.
I was talking to a friend a few years back about my love for furniture, my relationship with chairs in particular. There was a chair that I found discarded and ultimately forgotten. I came upon this chair accidentally. I wasn't looking for a relationship. Anyway, the chair was a very handsome chair with so many things to look at. His back was decorative; his arms were long and lean. His legs...I have never seen such beautiful legs. But he was beaten down. His self-esteem had long been worn out. His seat, which was repeatedly upholstered over years, was torn and faded. His stuffing was busting out revealing his age and loss of pride. Me, being a care taker and rescuer of sorts....picked up the chair and brought it home. He sat at the top of the stairs for a few weeks in a corner. My friends however saw this chair and commented on how ugly he was. They wondered why I had him in my home commenting on how dirty he was and how unattractive he was due to the years of neglect. I ignored them and kept him around. Finally one day I decided to put him on my coffee table and take the layers of cloth and wool stuffing off of his seat. Then I cleaned him, primed him and painted him black. Three months later I sat back and looked at him and this is what I saw.....A chair, a man restored...but not only restored but given a whole new purpose. He was beautiful again. He was unique and wonderful....The same chair that my friends were grossed out by....is now a chair that they ask permission to touch. Amazing.....One thing is for certain...NOTHING STAYS THE SAME! Change is inevitable and what is ugly or dirty or discarded as trash can be saved, can be rescued and can be made shinier than new!
Taking discarded forgotten pieces and giving them their self-esteem back is a passion for me. Living in a world where we discard things so easily I’d like to think I am making an itty bitty difference.
Pearle Northrop

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Danforth Annual Juried Exhibition is here again...


I submitted two pieces this year for the Annual Exhibitions at the Danforth Museum.
I didn't submit furniture this year but instead I entered my Dot Dot Dotting By Pearle
Entry #1
Bowl & Orb


Blue side of the orb

Bottom of the bowl







Entry #2
Up-Cycled Trader Joe's Cookie Box








So, there are my two entries. Lets hope I get at least one...It would be wicked cool! ♥


Letter from Trader Joes about the origin of this box...

Pearle,

Thank you for your feedback and inquiry.  We offered our Orange Cardamom
Cookies in this box for the winter holidays several years ago.  This
packaging was exclusively picked just for this product by our supplier.
However, we do not have any specific details available about this
packaging.  We are sorry we cannot assist further.

Sincerely,
Amy
Trader Joe's 
Customer Relations




 
*On a side note: If anybody does know any more about the Trader Joes Cookie box that would be cool.
Also...totally looking for more.
Posted by at

3 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    Awesome choices, I love the bowl and orb... good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  2. turtleglassApril 28, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    totally diggin the purse!

    ReplyDelete
  3. PearleApril 28, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Thank you...it was actually a wooden cookie box. I think it would make an awesome clutch!

    ReplyDelete

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