“My “work” is inspired by the love of tearing paper that has fascinated me since childhood. I love the sound really old stock makes when randomly ripped and the rough deckle edge achieved by using a straight edge rather than an X-acto blade. I even love the musty smell of old yellowing magazines that have spent the bulk of their existence in a dank basement or tucked away in an unventilated attic.
My first memories of creativity, outside the realm of coloring mimeographed line art, involved tearing up magazines and collaging random words with whatever fonts I found interesting at the time. These early pieces have a ransom note quality that is only slightly softened by the yellow, wide-ruled paper I pasted them on to. (I did not eat the paste, but I loved the smell of it.) To this day, I can trace most everything I have made (that I have actually liked) back to a collage of the words “Chase, pail and gre” that I made in the first grade. I am thankful that my grandmother, a confessed pack rat, squirreled away this rare gem so that I can explore the roots of my artistic existence.
The pieces I make are almost always given to friends as gifts. I do not consider myself an “artist” in the general sense, but rather, a warped craftsperson. It takes a special person who is not afraid of iridescent glitter, hairdo illustrations from the 40’s and toilet humor to like what I do. Success doesn’t matter to me. I do this because it makes me happy. My only wish is that I could get all of the ideas out of my head and onto whatever substrate is most fitting. Recently, I have expanded my recycle fascination into mosaics and have fallen in love with a pair of tile nippers.
I like what I do, I do what I like and I recycle joy. I am a rhinestone cowboy.”
Direct sales are allocated exclusively to EK Allocation List members at a 10% discount. Orders of 6+ bottles save an additional 50% off shipping. New releases ship twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Join EK Allocation List
CUSTOMIZED ALLOCATIONS
You may customize your spring and fall allocations any way you like, from 0–12 bottles of each wine. (Small-lot and list-only wines will have lower limits.) To modify your allocations, click on MY ALLOCATION above. Join EK Allocation List
REORDERS
Wines often sell out at or close to release, so we encourage making the most of your spring and fall allocations. As long as wine remains, you are welcome to reorder online through our EK Special Order store. Or contact John Gillis at john@erickentwines.com or 415.244.9453.
