While working on another project with plastic bottle caps, I noticed the smaller caps kept getting stuck together, nesting in one another. It reminded me of Chuck Close’s circles of paint, so I decided to make a huge self-portrait with them. “CLOSE” (named in homage to Chuck Close) measures 8 feet by 7 feet and is made of over 7,000 plastic bottle caps. None have been painted - color variations are achieved solely by layering the caps. I continue to work with caps and lids, which I ask family and friends to collect, thereby engaging them in quantifying their contributions to the waste stream. I also dumpster dive at the recycling center and then hand wash and disinfect each one. This piece took two years to collect caps and 7 months to complete.

Venue & Connection Information

This piece is leaned against a wall, and should be able to be viewed from a distance as well as close up. It weighs over 100 pounds when assembled. The piece is assembled on-site on a wooden frame, from 2 ft x4 ft interlocking panels.