All he heard was something about toilet seat art, a toilet seat art museum, and an artist named Barney and that was all it took. He was in. So together with the Ketchum PR Creative Director, Ken Bruraker, photographer Cade Martin headed to San Antonio, Texas to shoot a series of images of Barney Smith, King of the Commode, for Ketchum’s client, Clorox.
What they created was a really terrific addition to the Clorox “Ode to the Commode” series, especially considering that the product is a basic household staple. There is no driving music, no fast-paced action, just an engaging 96-year-old Barney Smith talking about his 50 years of transforming something headed for the trash dumpster into art. As we view some of the 1,317 pieces in his garage/toilet seat museum we’re drawn into his story. We feel good he’s getting this recognition. Throughout it all, he never mentions the product; that’s not the point, is it? Doesn’t matter; we still get the message.
