GET LOST at this Saturday’s at Wynwood Art Walk in a display of paintings, photos and sculpture inspired by Brian Butler’s slightly creepy obsession with kitschy roadside culture and miniature golf.
“I am an artist, fueled by ice cream and miniature golf.”
When he isn’t out putting on the mini-green, Brian Butler does graphic design for bands and local venues. Hit up The UpperHand Art to check out some of his work. You may recognize some of his designs from one your favorite local watering holes or music venues.
In 2007 Brian Butler began to travel far and wide exploring America’s back roads on a quest for the greatest miniature gold courses in the land.
Several gallons of gas and eighty-seven courses later Brian Butler is getting ready to unveil GET LOST, a collection of work inspired by the years he spent getting lost on the back roads of America.
Mini Golf Restrospective : 2007 – Present
Massachusetts
In the summer of 2007 Colby Leonard and documented every miniature golf course in Massachusetts. At the time there were 84 courses.
Whale Island
“This installation is the product of a summer-long tour of every miniature golf course in Massachusetts. It is the predecessor of Capital Falls, my first attempt at playable-art.”
Whale Island was installed over the course of a week in MassArt’s Godine Gallery. It featured eight putt-putt holes, a mystery dwelling structure adorned with a waterfall skull, and the origin theater housed inside Moby Dick.
Throughout the exhibition was evidence of miniature golf courses Brian encountered on his trip and illustrated permutations in the development of Whale Island.
“Whale Island is a floating sperm whale carcass is slowly collecting sea-garbage. This demi-island is ultimately discovered and it’s inherent obstacles and unique terrain are capitalized on as the world’s first miniature golf island.”
Central Mini Golf Mural
“This was the first thing I made upon returning from a trip to Europe. It’s intended to be a celebration of the perfect summer weather.”
This mini golf mural was painted along the legal wall in Central Square Cambridge.
Myrtle Beach, SC
“Colby and I broke out the putters to head down to Myrtle Beach, and unknowingly celebrate “Senior Week”, (the week following “Biker Week”). We played a profane amount of miniature golf, and learned a lot about the dirty south.”
Contemporary Masters
Contemporary Masters is miniature golf show at the Salt Lake Art Center in Utah. Our hole, “Take Out the Clowns”, is comprised of space brain monsters who are harvesting the funny fluid of human clowns. And the effect this has on the gravity of circus peanuts.
GET LOST Opening Reception June 9, 2012 | 6-10 pm
Brian Butler, artist and miniature gold fanatic, has traveled far and wide exploring America’s back roads. The exhibit is an homage to America’s forgotten pass time.
Brian Butler also painted a sick mural and even installed a playable miniature golf hole, taking full advantage of every square inch the gallery has to offer. Here’s a teaser of the mural:
Saturday, June 9th at Product81 Gallery in Wynwood from 6-10 pm as a part of the Fordistas program.
Fordistas is a platform for emerging local artists that is powered by South Florida Ford. Artists are commissioned by Ford to create original pieces inspired by the program’s themes of self expression, passion and unity.
