google street view matchbook sketches by krista charles

‘our specialties are fourfold’ by krista charles, 2012business listed on matchbooks: the tea room business now on google maps at that location: now daily grind slogan on matchbooks: our specialties are unique cuisine private dinners old world pastries our original recipes size of matchbooks: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbooks: overall good. some slight yellowing, rubbing, light scratches. two matches and striker on one have been used. date sketches were completed: 12/2/2011 location of business: elkhart, in edition number: 1/2 and 2/2

krista charles has created a miniature, sketched series entitled ‘matchbook landscape’. the new mexico, USA-based artist draws small graphite scenes inside old matchbooks based upon the current google street view photographs of their address. the project started from an interest in a collection of old matchbooks belonging to her grandfather-in-law. charles notes, ‘pete had in a plastic baggie in the back of his junk drawer. I salvaged his matchbooks when he was downsizing from the home he lived in for over sixty years, where he and his wife raised their family.’

every small incendiary booklet utilized in the series has a street address scrawled across the front of the object’s cover. charles inputs this listing into google maps, then viewing these business locations from the 9-eyed camera perspective. the artist then develops a small pencil sketch of whatever she is able to discern from google’s vision, crafting a current landscape for the matchbook’s address upon the interior fold of each object. charles also includes a note about the location today, as many of the locations belonging to the antique matchbooks have already faded away.

exterior view of ‘the tea room’ matchbooks

‘matchbook landscape: circa 1900’ business listed on matchbook: circa 1900 business now on google maps at that location: now warson woods center slogan on matchbook: st. louis, missouri size of matchbook: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbook: good condition, some wear, light scratches, and rubbing. no matches have been removed. date sketch was completed: 12/20/2011 location of business: st louis, missouri edition number: 1/1

google street view of the address for ‘circa 1900’

‘business listed on matchbook: ziglar’s dress shop and gifts, ziglar’s sporting goods’ business now on google maps at that location: now out of business slogan on matchbook: levis for gals & white stag size of matchbook: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbook: nice condition, small amount of wear and rubbing. no matches have been removed. date sketch was completed: 2/18/2012 location of business: bridgeport, ca edition number: 1/1′

‘matchbook landscape: hearthstone restaurant & lounge’ business listed on matchbook: hearthstone restaurant & lounge business now on google maps at that location: now original roadhouse grill slogan on matchbook: 667-2355 size of matchbook: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbook: very nice. very small amount of wear and light scratches. no matches have been removed. date sketch was completed: 3/4/2012 location of business: gresham, or edition number: 1/1

exterior view of ‘hearthstone’ matchbook

google street view of the address for ‘hearthstone restaurant + lounge’

‘mi amigo’s, authentic mexican food catering & take-out (and matchbooks)’ business listed on matchbooks: mi amigo’s business now on google maps at that location: still mi amigo’s slogan on matchbook: authentic mexican food catering & take-out size of matchbooks: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbooks: very nice, almost no wear. no matches have been removed. date sketches were completed: 2/5/2012 and 3/11/2012 location of business: mesa, az edition numbers: 1/2 and 2/2

exterior view of ‘mi amigo’s’ matchbook

google street view of the address for ‘mi amigo’s’

‘bowling – good, clean fun for thousands of years’ business listed on matchbook: paddock bowl business now on google maps at that location: still paddock bowl slogan on matchbook: cocktail lounge pro shop darts size of matchbook: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbook: very nice, some wear and rubbing, light creasing. no matches have been removed. date sketch was completed: 12/26/2011 location of business: pacheco, ca edition number: 1/1

interior view of ‘bowling – good, clean fun for thousands of years’

‘mccarvers old town, tacoma, washington’ business listed on matchbook: mccarvers old town business now on google maps at that location: now mccarver square slogan on matchbook: 272-4474 size of matchbook: approximately 1.5 wide x 2 tall x ¼ thick inch overall condition of matchbook: good condition. small amount of wear , creasing, and light scratches. no matches have been removed. date sketch was completed: 3/6/2012 location of business: tacoma, wa edition number: 1/1

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