Tom Saw-yer
The titles of Pat Oleszko's artworks have puns, like "Knee-O-Fascism" and "Glad-He-Ate-Her". But, I have problems understanding the different meanings of the title "Tom Saw-yer". This artworks is composed of a big saw (the tool that is used in carpentry). One way, it can be read as "Tom Sawyer". In other ways, it can be read as "Tom saw (looked at) yer" and "Tom saws (cuts) yer". Am I right? But does "yer" here mean "you" or "her"?

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Answer

You may be over-thinking this a bit. A sawyer is an archaic word for someone who saws wood. Like baker or smith, it has become a last name.  Because Tom is not a 'sawyer' in the novel,  the inclusion of the saws in the artwork refer back to the original meaning.  The 'yer' is needed for identifying the character but is not part of the pun.

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I'm relatively certain "yer" is a slurred way of saying "you." Imagine a pirate saying it.
"Aye captain, saw yer on 'e docks 'e other dey."
So depending on what's on the artwork, it could either mean "Tom saw you" or "Tom saw(s) you."

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