Unique Cabin From 1800's Coming To Philbrook Museum

Something new is coming to the grounds of the Philbrook Museum of Art; a reclaimed log cabin from the 1800’s.

It's a log cabin from up in Northern Wisconsin.

"Found it at an old junk shop of all things," said Karl Unnasch. It was all in pieces.

Then he got the idea he could turn it into a functioning art installation.

"A Structure that's programmable that people can actually use, but also a living sculpture," Unnasch said. 

The roof is made up of T-shirts dipped in resin, allowed to harden, then fixed to a clear polycarbonate roof.

"Part greenhouse roof, part patchwork quilt," Unnasch said. 

He's created about 180 lanterns hanging from the ceiling out of found glass odds and ends like a fused lemonade pitcher, plate, soda bottle, and cup.

There is so much going on like decorative fireplace made from donated books.

"You know what, I've always wanted to make a secret door, so now we've got access to the electrical system," Unnasch said. 

The regular windows have been replaced with stained glass windows he created out of clear and donated pieces of colored glass.

The spaces in the walls, between the logs, he's filled with more of those scraps of T-shirt dipped in resin. He's added LED lights so when they're turned on the space glows.

The cabin will be completed in early October. 

The Philbrook says it will use the cabin for meetings and receptions to start off.