Clayton Bailey Press                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            23213333210

GIANT MUD BUGS!

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Beginning in 1977, a well-known San Francisco Area restauranteer, and character, named Juanita Musson, operated a bar and restaurant , ( The Warehouse Cafe) located below "Dr. Gladstone's Wonders of the World Museum" in downtown Port Costa. As a joke on Juanita, Clayton Bailey made several large ceramic Bugs to hang on the walls and ceilings of his Wonders Museum claiming that the bugs came upstairs from Juanita's restaurant.


 

BUG IN FLIGHT - 1977

27" X 24" X 9"

Ceramic, luster, felt flocking and animal hairs.

 
The ceramic bugs were actually formed from items on the restaurant menu. Molds from Alaskan crab legs formed the ceramic legs of the bugs and beetles, and a mold from a large cabbage leaf created the veined wings of the flying creature.

THREE BEETLES - 1977

Ceramic, luster, felt flocking, animal hair

10" to 24" long

 

This collection of Ceramic Mud Bugs was made by Clayton Bailey in 1977.
The legs were press molded from crab legs, and the wings were pressed from plaster press molds taken from large cabbage leaves.
The segmented bodies are coil built. Metallic lusters are used on the eyes.

These items are in the artist's collection as of 1- 2004

SEE METAL BUGS



This bug hangs on one wire from the ceiling.
Molded and hand-built parts. Stoneware ceramic with luster and flocking.
Bug is 24" long.

This ceramic bug lays on its back.
Molded and hand-built parts.
Stoneware ceramic with luster and flocking.
Bug is about 10" long.


This ceramic bug is displayed in a wood cage with screened openings on all sides.
Molded and hand-built parts.
Stoneware ceramic with luster and flocking.
Bug is about 10" long. Crate is 18" X 24"


This ceramic bug lays on its back.
Molded and hand-built parts.
Stoneware ceramic with uranium orange and green glazed back, and luster and flocking.
Bug is about 24" long


This bug with wings is permanently attached to the back wall of the felt-lined display case.
Molded and hand-built parts.
Stoneware ceramic with luster and flocking.
Display case is about 24" X 20" X 12" deep
(8" X 10" Photograph in the case shows a swarm of giant mud bugs on a human being.)
The two smaller bugs in the bottom of the case are not part of the display.