Chadwick Rantanen at Essex Street

Light up wall decorations, picture frames and clocks are the hosts for Chadwick Rantanen’s unusual art project, which takes the form of adaptors that allow one battery to be used in place of another. With adaptors in the form of bees sticking out the back of this clock, the device is forced to keep its kitschy face to the wall. Resistance to tackiness and artistic innovation become the subject matter. (At Essex Street through May 16th).

Chadwick Rantanen, Garden Cottage, battery operated cuckoo clock, 1 artist-made AA battery adaptor and 2 artist made C battery adaptors (plastic, metal, stickers), 11 x 9 x 6.5 inches, 2016.
Chadwick Rantanen, Garden Cottage, battery operated cuckoo clock, 1 artist-made AA battery adaptor and 2 artist made C battery adaptors (plastic, metal, stickers), 11 x 9 x 6.5 inches, 2016.