Rip it Out
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February 9th, 2010
Years ago, a very dear friend of mine named Vic gave me an awesome coffee table book for Christmas. The book was full of large painted images from walls advertising businesses, services and general graffiti in Mexico. I was immediately attracted to the bright, fun colors and diverse images in the book–everything from food vendors to social commentary to hardware stores were represented.
Through the years, I would occasionally flip through the book and remember my friend who passed away shortly after giving me the gift. One day when I was searching for interesting wall decor in my usual haunts, I had a thought: why can’t I use the book that I love so much as decor? Though I’ve been taught to respect the books I own and handle them with care, I couldn’t contain myself as I gladly and giddily ripped out the coolest images to make a collage for the naked space on my wall. Paint brushes, drills, chairs and sewing machines all made the final cut for my new project.
I took my favorite images to Hobby Lobby in East Lansing, MI where my dude Al hooked me up with custom frames and mats to compliment the images. I chose a total of 9 to make a square and cover the large space on my wall. Once hung, I was pretty proud of myself for having the guts to rip apart a special book. I think Vic would love it, though, especially since I think of her every time I see the awesome artwork that was her gift to me.
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