Kleinpell Fine Arts Building

Kleinpell Fine Arts Building

River Falls, WI

Reviewed September 17th, 2005

Most striking when entering this campus restroom is the bold green and white pattern adorning the Ameripride roll-a-towels. Perhaps shrugged off by the casual student, I couldn't help myself from analyzing a bit more. Perhaps it was because I entered the building hoping to be able to browse an exhibit. Unfortunately, this suitcase college all but shuts down on the weekend and I was out of luck on this Saturday afternoon. I was left to my own devices and subconsciously began to look for art in unseemly locations. Witness the birth of the outside artist. Choosing a canvas of a towel may appear a bold statement to a traditional artist - but an outside artist, one employed as a restroom supply company towel designer, thinks nothing of this decision. Perhaps taking it one step too far though - in fact, this borders on ludicrous - was opting for a rolling treadmill handtowel. Of course, we know it's not a treadmill. One would assume a treadmill towel to continously roll in a circle - thus staying ever-wet and spreading diseases every which way but loose. The pattern is striking at first, then warms you up with delicate lines and rich fields of a shade of green rarely seen in the natural or preternatural world. Vertical green lines of varying width and infinite length cover and complement the starchy dull white towel. Crass and hard-lined patternless wrinkles contrast with the geometric diaphaneity of the green lines showcasing a dichotomy stronger than any Grant Wood painting could achieve.

RESTROOM RATING: 6
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