Best Handmade Get Well Card EVER!

"Cheer up" made by hand get well card by Ellen B. Moore-Morrill circa 1950.
Courtesy BOXLOT on Facebook.

VICE ! 10 Original Press Photographs from the Golden Days of Obscenity collection Jim Linderman

The doorway to the Book Shack photograph by John Collier 1973 Free Press (Detroit?)

Candy Barr Stripped of Freedom 1957 photographer unknown, no source indicated

Pornography businesses line part of 66th Street N in Pinellas Park 1979 photograph by Barbara Hansen St. Petersberg Times

An interior view of the lobby office at the Geisha House which is a massage parlor and peep show at 414 West 42nd Street.  The two gentlemen pictured are employees  1972 photographer unknown, New York Times

King's News raid  1961 photograph, source unknown

After some local residents complained and called the sign lewd and indecent, the North Hempstead Town Board asked him to add more clothes to the sign  1957 photographer unknown N. E. A.

 Peep Shows 1953?  Photograph by Knefel Chicago Sun Times

Vice raid  1957 photograph by Clarence B. Garrett The Sun Papers

New York minister holds news stand magazines that caused objections 1963  AP wirephoto photographer unknown

Customs officers check the books in preparation for burning 1964 photographer unknown Keystone Press Agency




 

Folk Art Shovel-Tailed Snow Snake Real Photo Postcard

Folk Art Shovel-Tailed Snow Snake Real Photo Postcard of Rice Lake, WI.  "Largest one ever seen."
Collection Jim Linderman courtesy Curley's Antiques

The Church of God Jesus and the Holy Ghost by W.C.Rice

The Church of God Jesus and the Holy Ghost by W.C.Rice, Alabama. Original photograph Jim Linderman

Large Folk Art Whirligig in the Sky

Large Folk Art Whirligig  original snapshot c. 1950? Collection Jim Linderman

Puma by Michigan Carver Fred Alten c. 1910-1945 Collection Jim Linderman

Collectors Joe and Lee Dumas discovered 156 carvings by Mr. Alten hidden in a backyard shack 30 years after his death.  There were 14 hand built cages holding the menagerie in darkness since Alten passed in 1945.  Collector Julie Hall wrote in the first catalog devoted to the work. "Alten's animals were "captured" in green wood cages with metal bars.  It was apparent that, once Fred finished a dozen or so animals, he stood them in cages, and then permanently fitted the metal bars around them in a rigid wooden frame."  "They were very strong, and I had to smash some of the animals to get them out…" Dumas is quoted in The Detroit News in 1986.  It appears now this figure was one of them.  I was told the tail was likely broken at that time.  It also explains why the figure was photographed here (Country Living Magazine September 1986) on their shelves positioned with no tail showing!  I also now have the tail.

Over the years, Alten's works have been added to many museums, some through purchase, others by generous donations.  A dozen standard works on folk and outsider artists include his work. 

Alten created his animals from several pieces of wood mortised together.  Joined portions are seen here.  He also often covered the carvings in wax while painting them and used a comb or pointed object to create a "hair" effect.  A good portion of this has been lost since the little fella was photographed, but it has knocked around a good while.  The puma was an orphan.

Shown here in Country Living Magazine 1986.

Puma Fred Alten c. 1920-1945.  Wood, was, original paint.  Collection Jim Linderman

Elke Sommer Celebrity Artist

Celebrity painters seldom amount to much.Red Skelton, Ronnie Wood, Sly Stallone, Miles Davis...even Tony Bennett. All great, but snubbed by the insular real art world. They painted when they should have performed. But we make an exception for Elke Sommer.  Why?  Because the art world treats women artists like crap.Sexism abounds. Painting is STILL seen as a hard ham-fisted manly activity.Think Jackson Pollock grunting over a floor-sized abstract, or Julian Schnabel bossing the city of New York into allowing his rooftop to exceed New York City limits. It helps if you are a troubled genius who drinks too much too. Well, Elke is neither of those, as far as I know..AND her paintings are FOR SALE HERE  I think. Most seem sold, but I didn't click through too many. Give Elke Sommer some major love. Buy a Painting!

New York Corn Shuckers original photograph c. 1905

A nice group photograph of what appears to be a good portion of the town shucking the corn crop.  Note remnants of outer leaves on the ground. I'm not sure how much work they got out of the two fellows lower right.  I have to say they appear to have spent the day with corn liquor instead of shucking tools.  Photograph by Lorenzo  Short, Rondout NY circa 1905.