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Art Institute of Chicago

Spotted

Bisa Butler — The Safety Patrol
Bisa Butler

The Safety Patrol

2018

The Safety Patrol considers the potential of seven children as future caretakers of the world. The boy in the center stands in front of his classmates, wearing a sash that signals his role helping other children safely cross the street. His outstretched arms reinforce his duty to lead and protect and his facial expression registers that he is poised and not afraid of what lies ahead. As the artist has noted, the letters OK printed diagonally on his shirt and the yellow eye on his left side simultaneously ward off evil forces and forecast that the children are prepared for the future and will be alright.

Medium
Cotton, wool, and chiffon; appliquéd and quilted
Dimensions

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Spotted works by Bisa Butler

About this work

Bisa Butler, The Safety Patrol, 2018

The Safety Patrol considers the potential of seven children as future caretakers of the world. The boy in the center stands in front of his classmates, wearing a sash that signals his role helping other children safely cross the street. His outstretched arms reinforce his duty to lead and protect and his facial expression registers that he is poised and not afraid of what lies ahead. As the artist has noted, the letters OK printed diagonally on his shirt and the yellow eye on his left side simultaneously ward off evil forces and forecast that the children are prepared for the future and will be alright.

Medium
Cotton, wool, and chiffon; appliquéd and quilted
Dimensions
210.8 x 229 cm
Year
2018
Seen at
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Related themes

Appliqué, Bold, American, Textile, Children, Colorful, Quilted, Figurative, Fiber Art, Contemporary

More works by Bisa Butler

Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago