George Laithwaite of Canada Concrete Sculptures Folk Art Environment

It’s the cement garden of George Laithwaite in Canada created from 1912 to 1952. At the garden, historical figures consort with figures from the Bible, Jack and Jill and Maggie and Jiggs. The masterpiece is depicted on my real photo postcard. It’s The Plough. The angry looking fellow is apparently the artist, while the figure behind the oxen team is the first Canadian Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald. The best source on the mysterious conglomeration of concrete figures is the book / pamphlet of Ralph Smith, fortunately available in full text online. Real Photo Postcard of The Plough by George Laithwaite c. 1940. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. A Laithwaite Legacy by Ralph Smith available in full at https://www.ruralroutes.com/8125.html

Halloween Antique Gauze Masks

A fine group of antique halloween masks. The story of the manufacturers is told on a post on the Blog with more pictures. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Thanks and a tip "o" the mask to BOXLOT on Facebook. Full post is at https://dulltooldimbulb.blogspot.com/2016/08/vintage-antique-gauze-linen-muslin.html

Famous Monsters of Filmland the DRAWINGS submitted by a boy. Forrest J. Ackerman Private Collection

Original Drawings for Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine submitted by a boy. Famous Monsters was started in 1958. These were contest drawings sent for publication in a "submitted by fans" section of the magazine. Editor Forrest J. Ackerman kept these for decades in his private collection. There are some 50 drawings revealing a young talent under the spell of prominent monsters(and monster films) of the 1950s and 1960s. Each drawing refers to a specific film. They were likely inspired by the numerous illustrations from press kits the magazine relied on for content. The works were drawn on 9.5 x 12 inch manilla paper. I created a blog which illustrates them all at the link here. All collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb https://monsters-of-filmland.blogspot.com/2024/10/

A Cactus Pebble Sculpture by Visionary Artist Ben Hartman Folk Art Environment

It’s Ben Hartman posing with a pebble masterpiece. I guess I would call it a cactus thingamajig for birds. Not only is his amazing environment saved, it looks fantastic! Original Real Photo Postcard circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. See More at www.hartmanrockgarden.org #outsiderart #visionaryart #folkart #yardart #jimlinderman #dulltooldimbulb

Totem Pole Park in Crescent City CA is a bit of a mystery. There is little written about it. This, and a dozen other RPPC images of the place were taken by Frank Patterson, who worked the area with his camera 1920 to the 1950s. His archives are held at Oregon State University Libraries. There is a photo of the apparently non-indigenous artist in this 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics…but unless my eyes fail me they don’t list his name! The piece claims the artist made 2800 pieces with his Boy Scout ax, and that “hundreds of his samples can be seen…along highways of the west coast.” Well, I dunno. I posted another of his works (a gorilla in chains) on a previous blog post. The set of cards don’t reveal anything on the reverse. A few other carvings which make no sense are included. I believe the place is gone. Totem Pole Park formerly I Cresent City, CA. Painted Stump Octopus collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Other images from various sources.

Circus Carnival Back Half of a Zebra Man ? Original Photograph c. 1930

Bonus Post. Zebra and back half of a zebra man? Original snapshot c. 1930ish? Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb