I am seeking information on Buster Simpson's "Kohler Ceramic Project". Where was it? (maybe Houston?) When? (temporary?) and Media? This is part of a public art project.

It is a big vertical piece, all white, plain ceramic and it looks like a building against a skyline. We have a slide without all necessary info.

Nancy Siker Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Library

-- Nancy A. SIker (nasiker@miad.edu), July 09, 2003

Answers

Buster did the project at the Kohler factory. Why don't you contact him directly?

-- Susanna DeMaria Wilson (osus@pacbell.net), September 16, 2003.

Buster's address is buster@bustersimpson.net, and his website is www.bustersimpson.net. His resume lists:

1984 Arts and Industry Program, Kohler Company, Kohler, Wisconsin

which seems to match my recollection of the timeframe. The piece, as I recall, is actually two full-height public restroom urinals, stacked atop each other, and I seem to recall that the title is "Witness Tree", alluding to the animal territorial act of "marking" various objects. I have a postcard, probably printed from the same shot used for your slide, which clearly used a lolow camera angle to create the skyline tower effect. I'll see if I can dig it up... I think it lists the installation location.

Buster's online fairly often, so drop him a line for exact details (and for other subtle alternate interpretations and motivations that he might have).

Reid. (one of his nephews...)

-- Reid Simpson (reid.simpson@comcast.net), November 12, 2003.