Wine labels, and art....

[Araich]

I'm sure most working artists are familiar with the wine bottle (rightly or not)... and most with the long history of artwork on wine labels.

My question is: Have you ever seen sculpture on a label? And if so, what, where and do you have a picture?

And - is it crass commercialism, or a happy marriage?

[gordonrogers]

Can't think of a wine label. I know that Rachel Whiteread was commissioned to do a label for Becks Beer, but can't find an image of it anywhere.

Wine is too namby pamby for sculpture, you need big sturdy beer bottles for rough-hands thirsty sculptors.

:^b

[redrajah]

oz rules... (http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/authors/article.jsp?ID=5021) and here's one from the new york winery, channing daughters (http://www.timesreview.com/winepress/stories/wp-label.htm) and then there is the staglin family vineyard (http://www.staglinfamily.com/about_thelabel.html) and there's the heller estate (http://www.durneywines.com/awards.html)

and if gordon ever makes it to dublin i'd be happy to share a bottle or two of red that might just change your mind...

[Araich]

LOL. I actually have work in that Sculpture in the Vines! The show being curated by my dealer... it's a small world.

Not sure about the namby pamby :D

Thanks for those links, it does seem thin on the ground though, doesn't it?

What prompted this, is that I've been asked by an international wine export company, if they can use my work on their labels. I have heard that a friend and great sculptor Jim Croke, did a label once. I'll try and get in touch with him...

OK. I went and visited Jim Croke (he has the most beautiful studio/house) and saw the wine bottle. The work used was a wall piece, a square grid work of interlaced found objects. It fit the label well, and was closely related to painting... and no, he had none left for me to drink!

Most interesting is that the vineyard bought the work, and bought the copyright as well. They appear to have a great collection of Australian art - http://www.leeuwinestate.com.au/wines/newReleases/2001AsSb.html

[redrajah]

very cool, i don't think that is crass commercialism. i just hope you like the wine and that they are generous with it... i'd gladly marry myself to a case of shiraz of which i notice the art series is sorely missing.

[benny]

I once bought a bottle of vodka that had a sort of 3d label of this increadible cathederal going through it. The bottle was somewhat architectural itself - it was trippy. Sorry I don't have a picture, I gave the bottle away.
That sort of 3D imaging on a bottle was very low tech though, compared to this new 3D computer 'sculpture'...
Do you have something on the drawing board Araich?