Scandal Alert: Fiber Sculpture Re-fabrication Actually Bought at Walmart

["Best of Chicago Art Magazine" re-post. Originally appeared 4/6/10]

Vinga Obrim’s work features fabric sculptures that appear almost identical to Tickle-Me Elmo dolls. However, they are actually created from the clothes taken from victim’s of the recent and deadly Averset City conflict, donated from the city’s morgue. The work was a commentary of commercialism and the unknown origin of household products in our daily lives. Re-fabricated artwork is far from unknown, as seen in Michael Browns’s re-fabricated mop and bucket, and Gavin Turk’s $30,000 cardboard boxes.

However, packaging for a standard “Tickle Me Elmo” doll was found in the dumpster outside of Lance Vale Gallery, casting suspicion on the doll being actually re-manufactured at all. The gallery launched an investigation which quickly revealed, via simple lab examination, that it was indeed a doll from Walmart. One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said she became suspicious when she saw “those little grey wires they use to attach toys to the cardboard packaging” on a desk at the gallery.

Lawsuits and counter-lawsuits have been filed.

[Editor's Note: Chicago Art Magazine wishes all its readers a happy April Fool's Day]