Joel Otterson

Narrator: Look up! Can you tell what these chandeliers are made of? Artist Joel Otterson used old goblets or glasses from his own collection to make these. They’re called Bottoms Up, something we say to encourage someone to finish their drink to the very last drop. 

Look at the unusual tent. How is this different from other tents you’ve seen? This one is made of lace and vintage silk from a friend's house. Some of the lace was originally used as curtains. Otterson wanted to create a tent out of beautiful fabrics that would make you think of things other than camping. Peek inside it. Can you see the quilt? Can you imagine what you’d like to do in this tent?

Otterson also collects colorful beads and old-fashioned hand tools which he has strung together to make the colorful curtain on view nearby. Otterson talks about hand-crafting this work:

Joel Otterson: I want control over all of it. What my ten fingers can do, no other ten fingers can do. My hands are amazing.