top of page
STORY GALLERY > HATS > PAINTED HATS
painted fascinators
Golden Flower Bouquet
Whimsical Painted Fascinator
Initially, I priced these whimsical painted hats at $1,000,000,000.00 each because an artist friend, huddled in front of a space heater on a particularly cold day in Asheville a few years back, told me a story about an Italian artist who duct-taped a banana to a wall, called it art, and sold it for a million bucks. So, in remembering the story and having to price my hats, I thought, "Why not? My site addresses 'The Ridiculous' so, maybe someone out there needs to launder some monies?" LOL.
I don't think it is possible for an artist to honestly answer the never-ending and oh-so-draining question "How long did it take for you to make this?" Hours, days, weeks, and in many cases, years went into the making of these painted hats because, like all of my creations, I roam and continually add and subtract from them as long as they are sitting around. They are forever "works in progress" until I put them away. I consider these "million dollar hats" because to me, putting a price on the expenditure of spirit is such a ridiculous way of thinking and being, that I priced them just as ridiculously.
Anyways, back to the story. I looked it up online. The name of the artist was Maurizio Cattelan. He bought the banana for .30 cents at a local bodega and it sold for $120,000 instead of a million. The duct-taped banana was replaced and sold 3 times, for $120,000 -$150,000 each. Still, it doesn't add up to a million. The different stories all said that the police were called in eventually. One story says it's because the crowd grew too large and another says they were called in because some thief ate the banana, without payment. My initial thought was that he was probably thinking the "art" exhibit was some sort of retro "happening", so in that spirit ate the banana, but reading further, he ate it because... he was hungry.
Some folks who read this will shake their heads because the idea of a banana duct taped to a wall and called "art" is just plain ridiculous. Some might be angered by the wasteful spending, knowing that there are people in this world who are hungry and cold. Others, who had heard the story before, might shake their heads because my and my friend's facts weren't correct. Fake news and all that. Others still, will shake their heads because instead of focusing on the ridiculous banana story, they, more importantly, noticed that my friend was freezing. And some readers will shake their heads at their luck at being able to now purchase one of these ridiculous hats for the new discounted prices of $300 -$600. Tips accepted. Grin.
work in progress​$1,000,000.00​
Golden Flower Bouquet Whimsical Painted Fascinator
painted fascinators
WEARABLE CULINARY ART HATS
Colorful Flower Bouquet Whimsical Painted Fascinator
Colorful Flower Bouquet
Whimsical Painted Fascinator
pinks, greens, golds, aquas
& metallic copper
colorfully painted
egg carton flowers
upcycled hat
on coconut shell
with elastic for a dread bun
work in progress​$1,000,000.00​
Aqua & Green Flower
Whimsical Painted Fascinator
The first of my berry and egg carton painted hats. I made this pink, green, and aqua flower fascinator on a city bus. A bus I bought to renovate into a home on wheels, but which became my studio when the world shut down in 2020. It was cold AF, but the natural lighting was great and helped to lift my spirits. That joy factor is loudly apparent in the ridiculousness of this whimsical hat. I imagine it on top of a powdered wig, with a powdered face, circles of coral rouge for cheeks, and just a swipe of hot pink lipstick with a finger, for a berry-stained pouty lip look. Simple, like make-up in Europe might have been in its infancy. This silly art hat makes me think of cotton candy and clowns and I imagine a parody with french court costumes that involve white fishnets, big bows on satin shoes, a ruffly-lace trimmed corset, and my blue brocade pirate wench skirt, upcycled from a bedspread. An egg carton hat and a bedspread skirt... hmm? I think I'll title the ensemble "Breakfast in Bed".
$400
Aqua & Green Flower Whimsical Painted Fascinator
Purple & Pink Flower Bouquet
Whimsical Painted Fascinator
A wearable art hat. Dripping with purple, the small square base on this painted fascinator is an upcycled (blue)berry carton. Affixed to it are repurposed egg cartons that I've cut, shaped, and painted into pinkish-maroon flowers and, neon-green leaves. The egg carton flowers are dry brushed with metallic copper adding a bit of fancy shimmer to the fascinating hat. For a secure fit and easy on and off when getting in and out of a car, the whimsical bouquet is attached to a painted satin headband... with a toilet paper roll. Fixed at a dramatic cock and tilted slightly over one brow, guarantees you'll feel stylish every time you put on this "touch of ridiculous", even when without a mirror. I wonder what the conversation will be, empress.
$300
Purple & Pink Flower Whimsical Art Painted Hat
Empress Flower Bouquet Painted Fascinator
purples, pinks, violets,
greens & metallic copper
painted egg carton,
pinecone & fabric flowers
on styrofoam stereo packing
upcycled hat
on wide head band
currently unavailable​$1,000,000.00​
Empress Flower Bouquet Painted Fascinator
Queen of Hearts Paper Cup Crown Painted Fascinator
red & metallic gold
painted graduating hearts
on gold paper cup crown
with red heart beads
upcycled hat
headband fascinator
currently unavailable $250
Queen of Hearts Paper Cup Crown Painted Fascinator
.jpg)
Black, White & Red Egg Carton Painted Basket Hat
black, white with touch of red
stripped, animal print & polka dot fabric
painted egg carton flower
on straw basket
upcycled hat
Mardi Gras 2022
currently unavailable
$1,000,000,000
Black, White & Red Egg Carton Painted Basket Hat
painted hats
painted hats
Over the Top Hot Pink Painted Hat
maroon, purple & metallic violet
hand painted swirl & stripped
hot fuchsia pink satin top hat
with egg carton flowers
upcycled hat
cotton grosgrain
currently unavailable​$1,000,000.00​
Over the Top Hot Pink Painted Hat
Hot Pink Painted Owl Top Hat
pink, beige, purple & metallic violet
hand painted owl & flowers
fuchsia pink satin top hat
trimmed with painted egg carton flowers
upcycled hat
cotton grosgrain
​$1,000,000.00​
Hot Pink Painted Owl Top Hat
.jpg)
_edited.jpg)
_edited.jpg)
bottom of page