BATON TWIRLER 1971

This is Duane Hanson’s sculpture, "Baton Twirler". It's hard to say exactly when he made it, but Hanson was known for his life-like sculptures of everyday people. The thing that strikes me about this piece is the texture and, let's be honest, the shimmer. Every inch of this majorette's outfit is covered in sequins – red and white stripes, giving her this almost uncanny presence. I keep thinking about the way Hanson constructed this piece. The process started with a mold, then it was cast, painted, and dressed. This feels so different than my own process of painting on a canvas, but it is just as physical. Look at how the glossy surface of the sequins interacts with the matte finish of the skin. The contrast is so strange, but it also creates a strange feeling. Hanson's commitment to realism has always reminded me of the work of artists like Claes Oldenburg. Oldenburg’s soft sculptures share that kind of Pop Art sensibility but maybe with more humor. Both embrace this weird, almost unsettling take on the familiar.