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McMillan was known primarily as a photographer, then began experimenting with copper-plating and chrome-plating. The high polish of the chrome surface reflects the light like a mirror, thus integrating the immediate surroundings into the work and causing it to change as the surroundings change. The irregularity of the surface results in a reflection which is never static. Although the form of the bag is constant, the reflected image is not.

The artist was born in 1936 in Oklahoma City.

Source: Bulletin, November-December 1971.


Exhibition History"Jerry McMillan," organized and circulated by the Des Moines Art Center:~DMAC, Oct. 6 - Nov. 8, 1970 (traveled to):~Texas, Fort Worth Art Center, Nov. 23, 1970- Jan. 2, 1971;~Oklahoma Art Center, Feb. 28, 1971;~California, San Francisco Museum of Art, Mar. 15 - Apr. 18, 1971;~Washington, D.C., Corcoran Gallery of Art, May 3- June 6, 1971~(brochure-type catalog, ref. no. 25, full page ill., fig. no. 25)

MICHIGAN ARTRAIN, 1975 tour, sponsored by the Upper Midwest Regional Arts C:~Wisconsin (6 locations), Apr. 23-June 2~Minnesota (3 locations), June 4- June 29;~North Dakota (4 locations), July 2- July 27;~Minnesota (3 locations), July 30 - Aug. 17;~South Dakota (5 locations), Aug. 27- Oct. 5;~Iowa (6 locations), Oct. 8 - Nov. 16
Published ReferencesSan Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 22, 1971, in and article by Alfred Frankenstein titled: "McMillan Makes Bags Do Some Amazing Things."
DimensionsOverall: 7 × 5 × 3 in. (17.8 × 12.7 × 7.6 cm)
Other (case): 13 1/4 × 8 1/4 × 6 3/4 in. (33.7 × 21 × 17.1 cm)
Accession Number 1970.32
Classificationssculpture
Untitled Chrome Bag (Closed)
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