Thursday, February 25, 2010

That's No Lady...

Usually when I pick my daughter up from preschool in the afternoon, she spends a few minutes walking around her classroom showing me any new artwork she created that day.

Which was the case recently after the teacher had hung up all of the Valentine art made by the paste-eating set.

The school and classroom walls were plastered with red and pink heart-shaped crafts. There were flowers made from hearts, happy, smiling faces drawn onto hearts, heart collages...

She asked me excitedly, "Want to see the ladybug I made?" and of course, I said, "Yes," because I just love how anything she creates reflects the sweet innocence of a child's perspective. How for just a few moments, looking at her art transports me and allows me to see the world through her eyes...

As a matter of fact, I was lost in these thoughts when my little Mapplethorpe-in-training pointed proudly to this:

 
Ain't love grand?
Brutalism

20 comments:

Moooooog35 said...

Are you sure that's a ladybug and not a labiabug?

Whatever it is, someone needs to shave that thing.

Brutalism said...

Moooooog -- See? I saw a scrotum. Which is what is great about fine art such as this -- everyone perceives it differently.

Pervert.

ShutUpandRun said...

Only you, Brutalism, could see such beauty in this artsy ladybug. Scrotum or labia, it needs to be shaved. Those hairs just growing in really itch.

Brutalism said...

SU&R - At least she didn't do mixed media. That may have caused me to heave.

OneZenMom said...

Well, if the purpose of art is to make people think, I'd say she has an outstanding career ahead. Because between this and the hanging dolly a while back, she's definitely keeping me thinking. ;)

Anonymous said...

Hahahahaha! Oh man. Her teacher must've guffawed like a mad woman when she asked for cute Valentine's cards and got BALLS! :) So funny. And one to keep for when the kid is 16 and embarrassable.

Dilettard07 said...

Actually, that is really NEW stuff. Forget about what all you laypeople think, trying to find rabbits in the clouds. I'm here to tell you that you have witnessed the birth of a new art movement.

Yes, it builds on art of the past...but also combines many inspirations into a totally fresh and new perspective. Georgia O'Keefe soft and sensual flowers, but double entendres (and so, the title "Ladybug"). Picasso's disjointed body parts (there are a few naughty bits in here). Escher's mathematical genius (there's symmetry in this, and a road to nowhere, no escape!). Paul Cadmus' use of old materials in new, provocative ways. Matisse's expressionism and use of layers of color.

Does she have an agent yet? I see a Dupont Circle gallery opening.

YinMetYang said...

Tard makes me feel so unsophisticated....I just thought it was a construction paper vagina.

Brutalism said...

ZenMom - Exactly! And thank you for rationalizing that instead of pointing out the fact that she seems to be disturbed.

VA - Right. Balls! A lot of people are seeing a vagina here. Weird, huh? I just hope no one sees both, because that brings me back to a weird locker room incident that I don't want to think about...

Tard/YMY - I saw construction paper balls. And a child who was proud of her construction paper balls. (Let me re-phrase...)

But I do appreciate, again, rationalizing how this shows talent instead of a complete parenting failure. Thanks for that.

Lisa Randazzo said...

Thanks to this post I now know I am not abnormal. Do I dare say I may be as sick and twisted as your following? Hmmm.... well anyway I'm just glad I wasn't the only one who saw what I saw. I showed the artwork to my 9 year old and asked, "What does this look like?" He looked at me like I was a dope and said, "It's a heart, mom, what do you think!." He paused and then said, "Or your buttocks."
God help me.

Dilettard07 said...

Hold on a moment. Nobody said you have not raised a disturbed child and probably contributed to that state. It is quite obvious you have. But some of the great art of our time was produced by total wackos and psychos.

So congratulations! Do you think that Warhol's parents weren't proud?

JenBC said...

Genius. Can't wait for her breakout show featuring this piece, her baby doll paperclip bondage masterpiece, and other works that we aren't privvy to yet. So glad you got the child you deserve.

The Absurdist said...

She's a prodigy. You should start the exploitation process in 3... 2... 1...

You'll need the money to buy her therapist that BMW he'll have his eye on.

Johnny Virgil said...

That's fantastic, but as others have said, it really needs a wax.

Miss Spoken said...

A breakthrough in child therapy tools:

"Now show me on the ladybug exactly where he touched you ...."

Brutalism said...

Lisa - the "or your buttocks" has been amusing me for days...thanks for that.

Tard - True, dat. Provocative she is. I see a very promising career ahead of her. (Or a life of torment and one ear...)

JenBC - Definitely thinking of an exhibition. Except then my old boss might show up. And that's a whole series of posts for another day.

Jason - One wonders what she might see in the ink blots.

JV - I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that this must be a scrotal thing as her frame of reference for female parts is not that hairy. I'm positive I've shared too much...

Miss Spoken - We're advancing psychology here. That is hilarious.

Brutalism said...

Totally Scrotal.

Scrotally.

sus said...

Hmm, when I first looked at it, I thought it was buttocks. Then I looked again and thought "labiabug" (ha ha!). But now it looks rather "scrotal" to me.

(BTW, I stumbled across this blog while browsing Awkward Family Photos.)

MommaKiss said...

Labiabug?
Scrotally? Hello Friday night entertainment.

Jeannine said...

Reading this thread just made my morning. Hilarious.