Object number2005.33.16

Coke Bottle

Date1989

Artist Howard Finster (American, 1916-2001)

CultureAmerican

MediumOil and black marker on plywood (in shape of a coke bottle)

DimensionsUnframed: 34 1/4 x 10 in. (87 x 25.4 cm)

Credit LineGift of Pat O’Brien Parsons, class of 1951

On View

Not on view

Period20th c

Classification(s)

Signed(recto, LCC, black marker) BY- HOWARD FINSTER FROM GOD MAN OF VISIONS GOD BLESS

Inscribed(recto, UC, black marker) THE TOP IS AS HIGH AS YOU CAN GO/ ENDLESS CIRCLE/ MR. COKE; (recto, UCC, black marker) SOME FOLKS WOULD STAND ON THEIR HEAD FOR A COLD COKE/ (names written upside down, some illegible) CALFUS/ MUTINO/ COLIAL/ BUNSMN/ OLIKA/ SORTIUS/ MY FATHER DRINK COKES FROM THE FIRST/ COKES MAKES ITS OWN WAY/ ONLY ONE REAL COKE FLAVOUR/ COCA COLA/ IF ANY ONE HAS A BETTER DRINK THAN COKE THEY MUST HAVE KEPT IT FOR THEMSELVES I. HAVENT FOUND IT YET/ COKES WOUL SELL WITHOUT ANY ADVERTISEMENT/ i DRINK COKES ALL MY LIFE; (recto, LCC, black marker) ABICON/ KLUCHON/ CABTOLA/ ROCKROLLA/ CHURPHIN/ THE LORD IS NEVER FAR FROM THEE/ 11.000.911 WORKS SINCE 1976 GET RIGHT WITH GOD/ OCT-2-1989 12:54: PAST MIDNIGHT TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE BE READY/ AT LAST YOU WILL NEED. GOD THE MOST THINK. MILLIONS. OF CHURCH FOLKS DRINK COKES AND DRIVE HOME SAFELY; (recto, LC, black marker) THE BOTTOM IS AS LOW AS YOU CAN GO.

ProvenanceAcquired from the artist

Vassar Exhibitions

Faith and Fantasy in Outsider Art from the Permanent Collection

Exhibition HistoryPoughkeepsie, New York, The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, "Faith and Fantasy in Outsider Art from the Permanent Collection," February 13-April 26, 2009.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email loebcollections@vassar.edu