Artist creates portraits of famous faces from across the decades out of old cassette tapes

Artist creates portraits of famous faces from across the decades out of old cassette tapes

Mangalore Today News Network

A frugal artist has made use of her old cassette tapes and film reels to create portraits of some of the world’s most famous faces.

Erika Iris Simmons has crafted life-like images of iconic people across the decades from Marilyn Monroe to Bob Marley simply using the old-style tape.

She said: ’I like to take random things - like what you would find at a garage sale or in a thrift store - and make them into composite art.

 

Art recording: An image of The Beatles from Simmons’ project ’The Ghost In The Machine’

’Most of my pieces become portraits of people associated with the item I’ve chosen.

’I don’t really add any paint or pigments. I usually just take things apart and re-arrange the pieces, cutting away portions when necessary.

’A lot of my art is made with cassette tapes and old film reels in a series I call ’Ghost in the Machine’.’

Simmons, who was born in St Louise but grew up in Orlando, studied make-up and worked as a face-painter at Universal Studios before moving on to create physical artworks. 

 

In The Flesh: Singer Debbie Harry from the popular band Blondie

She explains on her website: ’I spent about a year tearing up anything I could find in my house – playing cards, newspapers, coffee table books. 

’I didn’t have money to spend on art supplies, all of my materials came from Walgreens: scissors, glue, scotch tape, etc.

’But I was searching for an idea, and it didn’t really matter that I didn’t have a lot to work with. That was a blessing in a way.

’At the time I was waiting tables at Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando, Florida. I was a cocktail waitress in the VIP lounge, which is Jimi Hendrix themed. I think staring at music memorabilia all day probably soaked my brain with that vibe.

’One day as I was leaving to go to work I saw a pile of cassette tapes laying on top of a canvas I had set near my door. I thought, “What ghosts could be hiding in those machines?” 

’I pulled out the ribbon and tried to work with it, making some writing. I watched the ribbon curl up and it reminded me of Jimi Hendrix’s crazy hair, so that was the first portrait I made.’

Simmons soon started showing her work in galleries and has now been working as a full-time artist for several years.

Courtesy: Dailymail London