Even more than the iconic hobo nickels, matchbooks will forever be a part of the American consciousness and a throwback to the past. British contemporary artist Aaron Kasmin is taking those tiny billboards and turning them into full-size works of art painstakingly recreated as pencil drawings for the show Up in Smoke at the Sims Reed Gallery in London. The exhibition includes a total of 28 new drawings focusing on matchbooks that run the gamut from a saucy Bottoms Up piece that was clearly for a bar and a seriously dapper group of gentlemen originally made for Simpsons Clothes. Why recreate matchbooks as fine art? In the artist’s words, “The matchbooks are small, ephemeral and almost forgotten; the ingenuity of the imagery in what must be the golden age of graphic design is here in minute form.” Kasmin’s work celebrates the glitz and glamour of the era while also paying homage to the unnamed creators of the originals. Aaron Kasmin: Up in Smoke will be on display at the Sims Reed Gallery until June 9.
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Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
