Tutti Frutti

Mrs. is excited to announce Tutti Frutti, Caroline Wells Chandler’s first solo exhibition with the gallery. In contrast to Chandler’s better-known crochet works, this exhibition highlights a new body of sewn drawings, collaborative works on paper, intaglio prints, and a selection of cake fail reliefs.

Chandler’s artistic practice arose from more than fifteen years of studying children’s drawings. Inspired by the writings of Jean Dubuffet and Art Brut, the artist initially gravitated towards studying his own earliest works and the works of children in a series of twenty seven intaglio prints in an attempt to gain a better understanding of reductive figuration.

“I see these drawings as a way to build a lexicon of new and recurring symbols that I have and will continue to explore in my work,” says Chandler.

From this initial study, Chandler utilized these developmentally universal mark-making techniques to compose his own unique work.  Hand embroidered on stretched cotton, the pieces use thread the consistency of a fine pipe cleaner to draw, the chromatic stitched works, evocative of pop culture figures like Bing Bong, Santa, Mona Lisa and Beavis and Butthead, presenting a novel perspective on familiar subjects and characters.

Chandler’s interest in cake fails stemmed from finding the perfect cake to wish his friends a happy birthday on social media. Constructed from foam, paint, fruit magnets, resin, and polymer clay, these trompe l’oeil reliefs feature Snooki of Willendorf, Todd a nod to The Dude Abides by Todd Bienvenu, and Midnight Snack which suggests Bert presenting himself to Ernie, as the only cookie he is allowed to eat in bed.

Included in this exhibition will also be a zine of collaborative drawings by Chandler’s Drawing I Spring 2018 students at Norwalk Community College.

“Collaborative image making is the antidote to the toxicity of the singular heroic voice. I see it as being political, in that it takes a collective stance, that is inclusive,” explains the artist. The collaborative drawings in this presentation were made with Manal Abu-Shaheen, Brandi Twilley, Geoffrey Chadsey, Lizzie Bonaventura, David Humphrey, Nick Wilkinson, Indy Wilkinson, Maria Calandra, Bill Chandler (Father), Eloise Chandler (Mother), and Patsy Martin (Sister).  “When you draw well with others, you learn how to harmonize, listen, give and compromise to work towards a common vision.”