Posted here are old and new labels and candy wrappers that helped me create my mosaics at: http://recycledmosaics.net
Marketing firms overhaul a brand in a typical 18 to 24 month cycle. This means colors in my working palette change per season. If I find some useful labels, it won't be long until the product refreshes its brand and the label is gone for good. My frustrations challenge me to search out a replacement, finding new methods to convey my thoughts and ideas.
My goal is to share with you what I've ran across all these years and how this influences my art
Before Kit Kat decided to bring the lame single bar treat, they used to have a 1/3 size from the original. I got a hold of these wrappers early 2000. I bought a lot since I knew these wouldn’t be around much longer and being seasonal. Vibrant hot pink for Easter time. Better than pastels.
Another refresh to a staple of colors I use. These helped my transitions since they are semi-transparent. A wide variety of colors were available for awhile. They can’t be found in the stores and replaced by Stride 2.0. The new look uses nothing but foil wrappers. Not good! I decided to post my Ollie image on their facebook page, got some hits anyways. I followed them on Twitter and sent a “contact us” email to see if I can get old stock, just the wrappers of course. Nope! They responded and denied my request. I will no longer buy any Kraft food including cheese :)
I sent off photos of my art over to Snapple HQ in ‘94 with a auto reply letter. Then I receive this in the mail when I came back from Christmas break. Huh. From the first letter to the second, something was up. But I could not give the art away. After all, I was in college not making a whole lot of dough. And so I asked the university attorney to check in to the letter. The president’s wife liked my art and was able to get this to his desk. Probably should have called myself instead. Looking back, my guess is it wasn’t a big deal. Could have been? Meh. I sold my first piece a couple of months later. The John Lennon white album portrait that was half done at the time.
Two drink flavors I would not have bought. These were but a few that I couldn’t figure out how they made it to the market. Both discontinued before 1996. My guess is Snapple was bought out again along with a considerable downsize to the product line. Pardon the quick photoshop, as they were cutup to be used in my art of course.
All art here is made entirely of market packaging including various candy wrappers, fruit drink labels, beer labels, tea wrappers, sugar packets, water bottle labels. Always looking for new labels that will expand my limited palette.
Snapple Ice Tea had a familiar image on their Iced Tea labels. The background is the Boston Tea Party. As we know it’s a historical event and a part of American history. Considered to be offensive, the painting is depicting an attack from indians with knives who were about to fight it out with some colonials. The illustration was modified for the next year’s lineup, taking out the entire boat as shown in the Mint Iced Tea. Pure butchery.
Lime Green Tea? Discontinued fast. I don’t remember if it was good or not.
