Barney Smith (artist)
Barney Smith | |
---|---|
Born | Eastland, Texas, U.S. | May 25, 1921
Died | July 23, 2019 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | (aged 98)
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | plumber museum curator |
Barney Smith (May 25, 1921 – July 23, 2019) was an American master plumber, artist and museum curator. He was best known for his
Early life
Smith was born in
Museum
Smith started his collection when he attached a pair of deer antlers to a toilet seat as a joke.[3] He went to a plumbing supply warehouse and took home a large number of extra or defective seats to use for more pieces of art.[1] In 1992, he opened his museum at his home.[4]
His collection of artwork included a toilet seat with pieces of the
In 2017, the museum was sold at auction, with its new owner moving it to The Colony, Texas. Smith cut the ribbon on the new location in May 2019.[3]
Personal life
Smith was married for 74 years to his wife, Velma Louise, who died in 2014.[1] He died on July 23, 2019, in San Antonio at the age of 98.[5]
A book about Smith's life and art, King of the Commode: Barney Smith and His Toilet Seat Art Museum, was published in 2017.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Petty, Kathleen (March 2015). "Toilet Seat Art Museum owner still adding to commode collection at 93". SAMag.com. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "The Magic of Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum". Glasstire.com. May 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c McLeod, Gerald E. (July 12, 2019). "Day Trips: Toilet Seat Museum -- Toilet seat art collection relocates to The Colony". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "Visit San Antonio's Toilet Seat Art Museum Before It Moves". SanAntonioThingsToDo.com. December 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c Mendoza, Madalyn (July 24, 2019). "San Antonio's Toilet Seat Art Museum owner Barney Smith dead at 98". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
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