Rebus

1997

Porcelain

50” x 26’ x 7”

Andy Yoder is a 1982 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art. He creates

three-dimensional representations of familiar everyday objects displaced

from their typical setting. There are unwritten rules behind these domestic

objects, prompting the viewer to question how we now interact with them in

their new environment. Yoder’s artwork generates a visceral reaction through

memory and humor. Whether in the form of a suspended 4 1⁄2’ toilet, five

large candy colored resin life vests, or 250 Jordan styled sneakers made out

of reclaimed packaging, Yoder’s work is playful, and according to him, “the

simpler, the better.”

Rebus is a word puzzle that utilizes pictures and letters to create a phrase

when read. Toby Lewis commissioned Yoder in 1997 to create this piece with

a few specific parameters, but overall he was told to “think about this wall.”

This prompted him to create multiple willow-ware styled porcelain ceramics,

which impressively combines wit and nostalgia. The forty-one pieces are

mounted onto the wall of a space where employees can go enjoy a meal and

relax during a busy work day, which is a necessary thing we can all look

forward to.

In Rebus the puzzle says “Grinding one's teeth does not fulfill one's belly,” a

reminder that stress does not aid in helping you reach your potential. People

are brought into this space to spend quality time decoding this reminder to let

go of their work related stress. Rebus is one of the most successful works in

the Progressive Art Collection in supporting their goal of providing corporate

workers with opportunities to engage in creative and provocative conversations.

-Emily Fontana