"Flashing Writes of Art"
By: Shamecca Williams



The attractions in the city are so many, that sometimes we ignore them. Art is an expression of how you see yourself, the world around you, as well as as bringing things that are intangible to a tangible state. The art of dance, drawing, singing, building architecture, making cars, designing clothing are just a few among many. My favorite and everlasting experience of art occurred in my senior year of high school, when I learned how to design and create buttons.

Many people don't know what buttons are but "they have seen it many times. Buttons are usually shaped in a circle or bottle cap form. And these circular pieces of metal are usually pinned on the hats, shirts, or back packs of the individuals of New York City. During my research of the history of buttons I found that they're also known by pin-back button, button badge or pin back. Further more why this style of art really peaked my interest was because I could write a quote or draw a picture to express myself. Not only could I express myself on the " pin back" but I could wear it on my clothing as an accessory. This was possible because a button " can be temporarily fastened to the surface of a garment using a safety pin, or a pin formed wire, a clutch or other mechanism".

" A button is a message tool, a person to person communication. A button maker is having your own printing press. A button can be the weapon of the oppressed or a quiet form of passive resistance. The first design for a for a pin-back button in the United States was patented in 1896. Among these fascinating findings are four more I would like to share. Pinbacks were commonly used during political campaigning ( button swere called campaign buttons in these cases). Associated with these findings is during 1787 buttons with campaign slogans were used by George Washington during his election. Also pictures of Abraham Lincoln were used in 1860 for his campaign.

My surprise to myself was that in 2009 I became an owner of my own printing press. I am currently own my own business making buttons called Express Yourself Inc. The one experience of creating my own passive message as a form of art in my senior class that day can never be taken away or forgotten. My work of art was given life the day I made it tangible. "Flashing Writes of Art"

Cited: peoplepowerpress.org/blog/news/35067-a-short-history-of-pin-back-buttons-the-guy-blog