Bill Clinton buys work by local artist Chris Roberts-Antieau
Now the profile of the Manchester fabric artist is rising again, this time by attracting the attention—and the buying power—of former President Bill Clinton.
Roberts-Antieau lives and works in Manchester, but she has a gallery in New Orleans. According to a press release from the artist's studio, Clinton was in New Orleans for a small-business conference earlier this week. Just after giving a speech he stopped at the gallery, located at 927 Royal Street in the French Quarter.
While at the gallery, Clinton bought two piecse by Roberts-Antieau, "Cat with Butterflies" and "Cat Hugger," as well as a piece by one of the gallery's other featured artists, Bryan Cunningham.
Roberts-Antieau uses meticulously cut scraps of cloth to create "fabric pictures," which she showcases in handpainted frames. She got her start at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair in 1988 and continues to exhibit in the fair—which was just named among the top 10 in the country.
For more information, see the artist's website.
"Cat With Butterflies"
Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.
Comments
liz
Fri, Mar 23, 2012 : 6:48 p.m.
wow!
blueeyegirl
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
I just love Bill Clinton....any thing he does is alright with me!
tdw
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.
Doe's anyone know what prices her work fetches?
julieswhimsies
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
Her pieces are dirt cheap. I couldn't afford to sell that low.
dotdash
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
there are some for sale at the Peaceable Kingdom. Seem to be in the $1000-$2500 range. I like her sense of humor.
TinyArtist
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
Check out Antieau Gallery on the worldwide interweb. Prints can be had for as low as $95, but originals seem to be in the "if you have to ask, . . . " category.
tdw
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 12:18 p.m.
Not my taste either, but I can't resent someones success
julieswhimsies
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 2:59 a.m.
I am always happy to see another artist win acclaim for her work! Brava!
a2girl
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 12:45 a.m.
I like Bill, but really? Slow news day.....
a2girl
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
It is a made up story, in the sense that the story could of, and should of, been told with out the bit about Clinton. Why does it matter that Bill bought a piece. It has nothing to do with the artist or their work. All it did was provide the writer with a headline.
tdw
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 12:12 p.m.
Or make something like MSNBC does?
tomnspats
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 2:30 a.m.
would you like aa.com to make something up ,like fox news does?
Kai Petainen
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
that's a really nice piece of artwork. congrats! but, it got me thinking.... that would be great for a kids room. in otherwords -- is Chelsea Clinton, pregnant? If so... then Ann Arbor.com might have gotten the scoop!
blueeyegirl
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
Good point!
say it plain
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 7:40 p.m.
exactly @Kai. let's not, in some effort to make grandiose this clearly folksy art, elevate it to some "any artist would tell you..." status lol. This piece, and presumably the 'cat hugger' thingie that he also got, would make a pretty and colorful and presumably-meaningful set of adornments to a child's room (or the house of one expecting a child) from a loving grandfather. I don't think anyone need worry whether the stuffed animals are perfectly coordinated to the 'pieces' lol, but they might not yet have gotten the crib linens so, if you think the artist might want to call Clinton for 'consulting' on that point ... Do doggies clash with kitties? Should she avoid ladybugs what with the butterflies and all? Absolutely *no* pastels now?! :-) And just in case you have no experience with little ones, I don't think they tend to climb up on chairs and pull down or crayon over the art on their walls ;-)
Kai Petainen
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
"I would NEVER place a piece of work this special in a child's room" why not? children are special.
say it plain
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 7:16 a.m.
Oh I totally agree with @Kai Petainen lol...that is soooo for a baby's room! Are you kidding me about "art work this special" lol? Cute depiction of a cat chasing butterflies. Not a centerpiece for a room to work around. Great idea for a nursery, or the hallway outside one!
julieswhimsies
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 4:51 a.m.
An artist would tell you that you design the room based on the painting...not the other way around. I would NEVER place a piece of work this special in a child's room. Ever
julieswhimsies
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 2:59 a.m.
Please.
Kai Petainen
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
it would be a great gift for her... think about it... 'Socks' the cat was Chelsea's cat... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socks_(cat)" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socks_(cat)</a>
MjC
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:04 p.m.
How exciting to have a piece of art work purchased by a past President of the U.S.! I love the work Roberts-Antieau does and she deserves a round of applause! Congratulations!!
kittybkahn
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
I love her work and just bought the movie at Peaceable Kingdom. Will be watching it later.
zanzerbar
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
oldgaffer......your name fits you well.
oldgaffer
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
Well, here is where I part company with Bill Clinton. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I have never liked any of her work. It's too trite, and too factory made for my taste.
actionjackson
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 2:40 a.m.
Old gaffer or curmudgeon. Probably a centerfold kind of "art guy"
MjC
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:07 p.m.
"Roberts-Antieau uses meticulously cut scraps of cloth to create "fabric pictures," which she showcases in hand painted frames. She got her start at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair in 1988 and continues to exhibit in the fair—which was just named among the top 10 in the country." Too trite and too factory made for your taste, eh? Then why comment at all? Do you think this artist won't see what you wrote? Of course she's probably already heard you at the art fair as one of those visitors who stand around the booths saying rude things like "I cold have done THAT!"
timjbd
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.
What a neighborly thing to say. I'm sure she appreciates what you do for everyone, too.