Boxes of Death

16" L x10" H x 3.5" W
"Adaptoplast"
Acrylic on wood
$100

Electric Coffin's Boxes of Death 2 opening last Thursday, like the coffins on display, incited laughter, chills, thrills, inspiration, nostalgia, and downright badass-itude. Thanks Duffy for inviting me to participate. I was blown away by the craftsmanship and diversity of interpretation by the 50 or so artists that each used a blank pine coffin to suggest their own ideas on this symbol of death.

My coffin "Adaptoplast" was recognizable in two obvious ways. First, it was the only horizontal coffin. The shelf in the middle is diagonal and creates an optical illusion of one side of the actual coffin being longer than the other, but the shape is intact. Secondly, though it has a wall hanger, it is meant to sit solidly on a shelf, bookshelf or table.

I approached this project metaphorically with the intention of creating a coffin that was an homage to the memories and celebration of life instead of physical death. I created partitions in my coffin to act like 4 spaces or dioramas in which to build scenes with toy characters. I then used the toys in those scenarios as still lives to paint the background so the present is etched into the physical moment, like a person getting their picture taken. The objects become reliquaries in the coffin and are meant to be replaced with other treasures, new memories. The point being that when the original objects move on their memories will remain.

This show will be on display at Electric Coffin Studio at 1022 1st Ave. S. for another week or so.

Boxes of Death 2

Opening is from 6-10pm
Electric Coffin Studio
1022 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134

Its finally that time of year again. Boxes of Death 2 is happening this Thursday, March 3rd, 2011.

Come on down as we have expanded the show to 50 artists this year. 50 artists, 50 coffins, 1 great show.

Boxes of Death 2 from Andrius Simutis on Vimeo.

I'll be participating in this show along with this all-star group of artists:
Barry Sevig, Billy Duong, W3 Collective, Brennan Coyle, Carlos Aguilar, Cris Cook, Chris Hunter, Christina Burtner, Corey Urlacher, David Enriquez, Davin Spridgen, Dorik Downing, Faustein, Ian Duca, Japhy Witte, Xavier Lopez, Weirdo, Jen Vertz, Jesse Link, Akak, Joey Nix, John Osgood, Jordan Kay, Jose Rodriguez III, Kenji, Kevin Walsh, Paper Marbles, Lawrence Ruelos, Lem Bartley, Mat Savage, Matt Spinney, Nick Beery, Nikolas Bryant, Parskid, Quincy Quigg, Ryan Davis, Solace, Scott Fuller, Shawn Bishop, Stacey Rozich, Stefan Hofmann, Tim Karpinski, Urban Soule, Jamie Lynn, Eric Purdy, Carolina Enriquez, Joe McSween, Michael Chandler, Molly Haas, and Duffy

Gimme Baby Robots TONIGHT!!

My piece for the Seattle Gimme Baby Robots show:

"The Problem of Leadership..."

Watercolor and ink on paper

5.25"x7.5"

Gimme Baby Robots is back! Come join in on some silent auction bidding action tonight from 7-10pm at The Greenwood Collective in Seattle. I'm going to be starting the bidding up on my piece for $2!! Yes, $2.

THE GREENWOOD COLLECTIVE:

8537 Greenwood Ave. N.

Seattle, WA 98103 (between 85th and 87th)

the show will be on the bottom floor.

Bidding starts at 7pm and ends at 10pm.

This is a one-night-only event. Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Commissioned Work

This scene was captured via I-phone and emailed to me from a house-warming party in Washington DC, thus giving birth to my first commissioned piece!

So if anyone is looking to capture a moment, or a scene of toys doing something mischievous in my style of oil painting, just email me a jpg of your vision. I'll sketch something up and give you a quote: christinaburtner@gmail.com

Gimme Baby Robots - SEATTLE 12/16/09

Gimme Baby Robots is returning to Seattle! This is an amazing experience. I've been able to buy some of my favorite original artwork at these shows, the artists involved are top-notch, the bidding is super fun, and the starting bids are as low as $1. If you have any Christmas shopping left to do, this is a great time to do it. Some of the artists participating in this show are: Kellie Talbot, Stefan Hofmann, Ryan Davis, David Olsen, Kathleen Asmann, and I'll be putting some of my art in too.

Gimme Baby Robots is one night only! The bidding starts at 7pm and will end at 9pm. Spacecraft is hosting the show this year at their headquarters at 227 9th Ave. N, across from Jones Soda and next to Banya 5 Spa.

Wednesday, December 16th from 7-9pm

at

Spacecraft Headquarters

227 9th Ave. N.

Seattle, WA 98109

Cool Story Seattle Premiere Friday 9/25

Cool Story is out in stores already, but this is going to be the only chance to see it in Seattle on the BIG screen! We will be showing it at the King Cat Theater in Beltown tomorrow night.

This is an all-ages event, but for those party animals who want to celebrate the beginning of a season of snow with a cocktail there is a bar for 21+.

We are super excited about how this video turned out, it was a challenge and a joy to make and everyone involved should be darn proud of themselves. We've got nothing but rave reviews from the media moguls and peanut galleries alike.

snowboarding.transworld.net/features/the-angry-interns-video-review-cool-story/

So come out and enjoy the show, we'll have lots of prizes, and opportunities to meet the riders, filmers, photographers, and producers of Think Thank!

Think Thank's Cool Story

Video premiere sponsored by: LIB TECH, Snowboy, and Sno-Con

King Cat Theater

2130 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

Doors open at 7pm

Advanced tickets can be purchased at Sno-Con for $7 or $10 at the door

Gimme Baby Robots 2009!!!!!

GIMME BABY ROBOTS, a one-night event features an affordable silent auction of small works (10x10 or smaller) by hundreds of artists nationwide, and it's on on its way to Seattle! This is the second year I've participated in these shows, both as an exhibitor and as a bidder, and let me tell you it's crazy fun. For the patrons, I like to think of it as a "gateway" opportunity to buy art, to see firsthand how inclusive, affordable and accessible it can be. For the artists selling art for uber-cheap, it's a great opportunity to get work out to the far reaches of the nation that would otherwise be inaccessible. I mean, I had a piece in Memphis, Tennessee last year for crying out loud! Also, I have a lot of art in a box right now, what good is it doing in a box? I'd rather have it go to a good home.

I'd also like to add that there is serious high quality original art shown at these auctions. From art professors like John Hitchcock from U of Wisconsin to my very own brother Dave Teng Olsen's work who teaches art at Wellesley College, and one of my all time favorite Seattle artists, Kellie Talbot we're talking art that you buy and love forever.

Here's the line-up thus far:
Igloo Gallery, Portland OR 7/30/09
Empty Bottle Gallery, Chicago IL 8/31/09
Seattle, WA sometime in December location T.B.A