I can Spy with my Little Eye
at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
« I can Spy with my Little Eye at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum » is an artist book which explores the similarity and complementarity of the fashion and car worlds shown at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks. As I was walking through the museum, my eyes, through the lens of my camera, got attracted to small elements of the different models presented.
The book is an invitation to come closer, bend, look for details, spy carefully. It combines both worlds in harmonious or funny diptychs, pairing a button with a plug, the shape of a dress with the front of a car or a shimmering beaded gown with a shiny part of an engine. It is an explosion of colors, shapes, patterns, materials and fabrics letting the viewer’s imagination wander.
The aluminum box opens up like a book, holding giclée archival prints on one side and three windows with found objects on the other side, highlighting the relationships between fashions and cars.
« I can Spy with my Little Eye at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum » was created for Contemporary Meets Vintage: Book Artists Respond exhibition, a collaborative project between the Northwoods Book Arts Guild and Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska.
I would like to especially thank Connie Stricks for her precious help in identifying the cars and fashions in the photos. Thanks to the museum staff for their support and warm welcoming.
Photography, design & creation of the box Magdéleine Ferru
Archival giclée prints
7,5 x 9,5 x 3,5 in / 19 x 24 x 9 cm (closed)
2024
www.fountainheadmuseum.com/
Photos legends and Identifications :
1 1938 House of Worth ivory Magicia crepe gown with beaded floral detail
1931 Cord – Series L-29 Cabriolet (grill)
2 1908 Ball gown with metallic embroidery, silver and gold beading, rhinestones and pearls
1903 Cadillac – Model A Runabout with Tonneau (radiator)
3 Ca 1905 Gown of black lace over ivory tulle skirt and cotton petticoat
Marmon Sixteen Radiator/headlight detail
4 Early 1910s Chiffon, net, and lace day dress with button detailing
1904 White Steamer Model G Custom Touring (wicker basket lock)
5 1901 Afternoon dress of cutwork lace, rhinestone buttons
Radiator detail
6 Ca. 1906 Lace tea gown
1910 Hudson Model 20 Open Roadster (Preservation Class Vehicle _ rust on fender)
7 Ca. 1910 Embroidered linen coat
1904 Rambler Model L Canopy Rear-Entry Tonneau (tire tread)
8 Late 1930s Gown of novelty weave in textured silk with lamé backing
1932 Cadillac Series 452-B V16 Imperial Limousine by Fleetwood (vents)
9 1934 Gown in lamé and puckered silk with feather embellishment
Headlight reflections
10 1898 Patterned silk dinner dress with lavender organza and gathered ruffles
1912 Rauch & Lang Electric Brougham (side lamp)
11 Ca 1908 Pink silk tea gown
Head lamp detail
12 1910-15 Pongee silk duster with velvet and soutache trim
1905 Oldsmobile Model B Curved Dash Runabout
13 Ca. 1902 Lace, silk and velvet Tea gown
1921 Heine-Velox V-12 Sporting Victoria (hood lock)
14 Ca 1910 Gold brocade gown with hobble skirt
1906 Compound Model 7½ Light Touring Car (primer cup)
15 Ca 1905 Long wool Victorian coat with silk cord
1936 Packard 7-Passenger Convertible Touring 1408-973 (hood vent)
16 Ca 1850 Child’s horsehair bonnet
1902 Knox-Knoxmobile – Model B Runabout (engine cooling fan and rods)
17 1920s Art Deco beaded pattern ‘Flapper’ dress
1911 EMF Model 30 Coupe (acetylene head lamp vents)
18 Ca 1902 Silk charmeuse and lace tea gown
1910 Hudson Model 20 Open Roadster (Preservation Class Vehicle _ Rust on fender)
19 1923 Tabard style dress with seed and bugle beads
1909 Cadillac Model 30 Touring Demi-Tonneau (cylinder)
20 1920s Devore silk velvet shawl with black silk fringe
1898 Hay Motor Vehicle Stanhope Phaeton (wing nuts)
21 Ca 1897 French Jacquard weave silk gown with jet beads
Ford Model A transmission
22 1920s Devore silk velvet shawl with black silk fringe
Radiator detail
23 Ca 1912 Evening gown of cerise satin with chiffon ruffle and jet beaded lattice over dress
1931 Marmon 16 – Convertible Sedan (door handle)
24 1910-13 Silk chiffon ‘hobble’ skirt dress (belt detail)
1907 White Steamer Model G Custom Touring (horn detail)
25 1904 Silk taffeta day dress w/ velvet bobbin lace and embroidered flat cord
1912 America Underslung Type 34 Tourist 5-passenger Touring Car (Right hand gear shift)
26 1910-13 Silk chiffon ‘hobble’ skirt dress (neckline detail)
1933 Auburn Model 12-161A Custom Boattail Speedster (boattail detailing)
27 1930s Crimson silk satin gown
1927 Stutz – Vertical custom series AA Blackhawk Boattail Speedster (boattail)
28 1910-1912 Dyed red turkey feather on black mohair fur hat
1904 Buckmobile Runabout (sideboard with steel springs)
29 1930s Crimson silk satin gown
1930 Packard Deluxe 8 Roadster 745-422 (taillight)
30 Ca 1903 Patterned sheer gauze weave Barege Dress
1912 America Underslung Type 34 Tourist 5-passenger Touring Car (Right hand gear shift)
31 1920s Sequined caplet
1909 International Model D Auto Buggy (horn)
32 1928-29 Black muslin dress with black vermicular beading and gold beaded patterns
1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Sedan (grill)
33 1920s Teal Chiffon dress with Clear Crystal bugle and faceted beads
1930 Packard – Deluxe Roadster 745-42 (grill)
34 Ca 1900 Hat with heavily feathered and felted beaver crown
Door handle
35 1930s Maggy Rouff velvet trimmed horsehair ruffled ‘tango’ gown
1931 Marmon Sixteen Limousine (trunk latch)
36 Ca 1940 Floral sequined black velvet gown
Reflections
37 Ca 1912 Velvet street dress with silk thread bead drops
1906 Waltham Orient Buckboard (horn)
38 Ca 1890 Pingat embroidered silk evening mantle with beaded silk chenille fringe
Owen Magnetic – Model N-25 Touring Car (sediment bowl)
39 1915-17 Black velvet walking suit with black braid and emerald silk trim
Brass horn reflection
40 1925 Opera coat in copper and gold lamé decorated with green beetle wing cases (elytra)
1914 Moline-Knight Model MK-50 Touring (engine detail)