In the balance, probably not, this is more likely folk art from some tribe in Africa with only three members, who aren’t speaking to each other anymore. But there’s a certain rabbitish quality to it. Joseph Campbell said that the great myth of all tribal cultures—indeed, all culture—is the story of the Easter Bunny. So we include her hear, and think hoppy thoughts.
Yes, another fun round of everybody’s favorite game, “Bunny or Mutant”? Are those A) long floppy ears or B) a shawl? Does she have A) buck teeth, or B) only three teeth? Are we posessed of A) a cute button nose (the limitations of art do not permit adequet representation) or B) a nasally-inserted LED bulb?
“Bunny or Mutant!” The game where everybody’s a winner. Except the mutant, obviously, and usually the bunny, who gets eaten by the mutant.
Do people usually have pale blue sclera? Is that normal, or have we been having too many heavy metals in our diet?
“I’m going to tell you a secret.”
“Oh, yes, daddy, please tell me!”
“Someday…”
“Yes, daddy?”
“Someday…”
“Yes?”
“Someday you will be made out of grapes.”
“Oh.”
…And it’s another game of “Bunny or Mutant?” The game show where we ask “Why did anyone think a bunny should be made of purple polyps?”
Of course, there’s more to Easter than just bunnies. There’s family. There’s the passion of Christ and the salvation of mankind. And there’s chicks made of oatmeal cartons.
Or possibly ducks. I see that whatever this is is from the “Mad Dr. Frankenstein” school of anatomical design—thus the perfectly level cranium. The lace skirt over its shoulders cleverly conceals the steel bolts through its neck. I’m not sure what the flower does. Maybe it gives the overall creature a sense of gentility it otherwise lacks—”No, I’m not drumming my wingtips together as I consider throwing you into a river or otherwise hastening your demise. I’m thinking about…more sunflowers. Yeeessss.”
I know a lot of ducks. Heck, there’s a lake a few blocks away that’s filled with the darn things. Most of them aren’t able to maintain a fixed expression of manic obsession for more than like five minutes. This guy managed it for weeks.
Strange African sculpture and grape-bunny from Savers on South Lamar near 290. Quaker Oats Duck from Goodwill on 2222 and Lamar, Austin.
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