Wall Construction IV
Date1985
MediumMetal, enamel and tempera paint, roofing shingles, and found corrugated tin
Dimensions80 × 65 × 4 1/2 inches (203.2 × 165.1 × 11.4 cm)
MarkingsBlack stamp on the back top left corner: "[in rectangle] I-I-I-I-I-I"
Credit LineGift of Wilson Morris in memory of Linda Fisk Morris.
Object number2021.15
Copyright© Estate of William Christenberry / HEMPHILL Artworks.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextThrough painting, photography, sculptures, and assemblages, artist William Christenberry drew upon the landscape of the rural South and his childhood experiences growing up in Hale County, Alabama to address themes of memory, transience, and mortality. His art was inspired by vernacular architecture, Southern folkways, decaying signs, and other relics of rural life. Embodying the wear and tear of time, his wall constructions consist of castoff materials collected by the artist, including license plates, advertisements, and building materials.
Wall Construction IV reveals the rich complexity of Christenberry’s constructions. The slashes of vibrant green paint on the left side and top right corner of the work vibrate against the carefully composed mix of textures that include a long sheet of corrugated tin as well as a medley of asphalt shingles and rusted signage. The logo for “Coca-Cola” and the copyright line “Trade Mark Registered” that appeared on the iconic bottle is prominently repeated throughout the signage.
