Death Penalty the Firing Squad an historic photograph A practice banned in Mexico but not in the United States from Original photo 1927 Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

A historical image from my collection. So Capital Punishment is legal in 27 states, and five of them allow the firing squad. Tennessee in their great wisdom tried to put a woman to death yesterday but failed two attempts with injection…she is still alive as I write. Put me down for stopping the death penalty. I can’t see how thousands of poor souls overdose to death every year, but they can’t do it “right” institutionally. When I published this photo on the blog back in 2009, it was picked up by the great photography magazine Foam and published in a 2010 issue. My original post on the blog received comments from family members of the deceased despite it occurring more than half a century ago. General Arnulfo Gomez "El Hombre Sin Vicios" had shaved to prevent recognition, but was tracked down nonetheless. Condemned to death in Tepcelo at one in the morning and shot as the sun rose hours later. He had two requests. First, that his eyes be covered. Second, that the command to fire be silent. The commander had no problem with either. He raised, then dropped a silent hat to signal. Gomez...Fue aprehendido y fusilado por las tropas federales en 1927. The Photographer is unidentified, as is the artist who cropped the photo with such a heavy hand the original image is all but gone. I imagine Mexican photographic facilities in 1927 were less than ideal. Was the film carried across the border to be developed and enhanced? Gomez is a footnote in the troubled history of Mexico. He is mentioned on page 222 of "Mexican Suite: A History of Photography in Mexico but I do not know if the working photographer who took this photo is mentioned anywhere. “Newpapers were touching up photographic images for publication long before the fashion industry started slimming down models with an airbrush, but seldom has a press photo been so heavily embellished. The end of Arnulfo Gomez is an original press 1927 photograph capturing a firing squad precisely at the moment of death. Gomez is reported to have had one final request - that he not hear the command to fire. Granting his final wish, Col Manuel Limon, at right, silently drops his hat to signal his gunmen. A striking example of documentary photography and at the same time an example of extreme retouching” It should be noted that Mexico BANNED the death penalty in 2005, and the last military execution occurred in 1961. In the United States, 21 states allow it. It is an abomination. January 2025, the incumbent signed an executive order to restore and accelerate the enforcement of capital punishment and authorizing firing squads. He had earlier purchased full-page newspaper advertisements in May 1989 demanding the return of the death penalty following an attack on a female jogger in Central Park, although the 5 suspects arrested were not guilty of the crime. They were released from prison when the actual Killer confessed to the crime years later. To this day, he has not apologized or altered his position on capital punishment. "The end of General Arnulfo Gomez" Heavily embellished press photograph, 1927. Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

Plywood Religious Garden folk art environment in Michigan

Lund's Plywood Garden of Maple City, Michigan old time religion. E.K. Lund was a part-time magician who lived to the age of 100. From the looks of these rare postcards, that is about one plywood figure a year. Photo Postcards from Lund's Garden, formerly installed in Maple City, Michigan. All collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog #folkartenvironment #michigan

Cowboy Magician from Arcane Americana: Vintage Photos from the Jim Linderman Collection

Anonymous photographer circa 1920? Now in a private collection.

Ballerina puppet handmade carving 30 inches tall Early 20th Century?

From 12 years ago. Large puppet (ballerina) Photo Dull Tool Dim Bulb Archives. Now in a Private Collection

Homemade and Handmade Paper Dolls

Two handmade paper doll sets early 20rh Century from the book Antique Children’s Drawings of the 19th and early 20th C. By Jim Linderman. (225 pages, available from Blurb.com) Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Robert Howell Man on a Horse Outsider Art Sculpture

Robert Howell Yard Show in Virginia 1992. I never went back,it was too scary. Original photograph 1992 Robert Howell Folk Art Environment by Jim Linderman #folkartenvironment #yardshow. #folkart

Living in the Stump House? Two views of the Stump House in Edgewater Washington c. 1900

Two original images of the Stump House which was built (or rather grown)in Edgewater, Washington around 1900.There is a third image in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art taken in 1901 by photographer Darius Kinsey in 1901. Original photo / Real Photo Postcard of the Stump House c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Original Snapshot of Rufus Petersen's Rock Garden from 1967. A Folk Art Enironment made of stones. LOTS of Stones

Original 1967 snapshot of Peterson’s Rock Garden in Oregon.Rastus Petersen starting building the place (or thing) in 1935 and it arew into a 4 acre environment! He passed on in 1952 and the family took controluntil selling it in 2003. Despite considerable repairs it closed in 2016, but it was added to the National Registry of Historic places and was repaired and reopened in 2026. So it’s still there. Postcards abound, but this was the first actual snapshot I’ve ever seen. It’s a rock fantasy…and now the place survives through tourist visitors…and they sell rocks. Located between Bend and Redmond Oregon. Original snapshot photograph of a castle and lake at Petersen’s Rock Garden dated 1967. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Folk Art Environment, Roadside Wonder, Outsider Art.

Putting a Hex on Hex Signs

Well, I know a bit about folk art ,but I know absolutely nothing about Hex signs. In fact, the first article I found about them said “yes, Hex signs are still used and professional Hex sign artists still paint them. Well,there is no such thing as a “professional” folk artist. By definition, folk artists are amateurs so I smell a barn rat. I think we have to label them craft. Or “tourist art” might be more appropriate. As for their significance and function (other than decoration) I have no idea, Superstitions maybe? A hex sign is primarily decorative these days, but they used to ward off witchcraft, fires and farm failure it says. Who am I to doubt? I guess they work as there seem to be some old barns with them wearing the signs.

Primitive folk art Barnyard Puppets circa 1950.

A motley crew of puppets depicting farm creatures with Fido the Farm Dog. Handmade and hand sewn. Homemade farm puppets collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Antique Children's Drawings from the 19th and 20th Century NEW BOOK

Ferocious Bear attacks Man with Knife (or vice versa). Original Drawing by D. B. Webber 1907

Folk Art Finder and sublime Seller Critical Eye Finds run by Kate Hackman did it again with a group of drawings from 1907 Ipswich, MA artist D.B.Webber. Bears are on the move here, as forest land disapears to copy cat mega-mansions of drywall and Data Centers. They are on the news daily somewhere, climbing trees to escape man and terrified mothers. I've been ten feet from a bear and her cubs as a friend and I climbed a ridge to see a mother bear and her young ones lumbering along. She didn't chase us, but we ran back down as fast as we could anyway I think Mr. Webber exaggerates a bit, but at least he does it with an ink pen. Creative Eye Finds posts new treasures on Sunday. Each week is a pleasure. Man and Bear drawing by D.B Webber 1907. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Life size Folk Art Carving of Man in a Derby Hat

Life size Folk Art Carving of Man in a Derby Hat. Circa 1940 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Young Woman's School Project for Sewing Class c. 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

A Young Woman's School Project for Sewing Class. Consisting of cut out patterns, stitch samples, color wheels and such along with this actual hand sewn miniature top with collar inclued in the folder I give an A. c. 1950 Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Very Early ink drawing of a Native American with a Rifle

A very early ink drawing of a Native American with rifle. Details of an early settler’s town on a hillside. Native Americans began acquiring firearms in the late 18th and early 19th century. Despite intricate detail likely drawn by a child? Early drawing of an armed Native American. Collection Jim Linderman / Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Two Watercolor exercises by a schoolboy c.1900 - 1955

Two Watercolor exercises by a schoolboy c.1900 - 1955. Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Huge Folk Art Carving and Sculpture from the 1930s built in a barren landscape. Vintage Snapshot Photograph

Huge Folk Art Carving and Sculpture from the 1930s built in a barren landscape. Vintage Snapshot Photograph Well, THIS is my kind of thing. A huge wooden folk art “stump man” placed beside the road. As for location and date, All I know is that there was a sawmill nearby (found with the same group of photos) and that the garb and equipment of the workers appears that old, if not older. A great photo and one I am grateful someone stopped to take. Stump Man’s sign Is Illegible. Origiginal vintage Snapshot of Folk Art Stump Man Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Original Basil Merret Art Brut Drawings

Artist Richard Basil Merrett was born in 1910 in Lydney, Gloucestershire. In 1939 and was listed as 'incapacitated', and later institutionalized at Bethlem Royal Hospital in London as a psychiatric patient. He died in 1969. His works were produced c. 1945-1950, and some 1,000 works were produced. The work was created in series, each numbered, and included authors, musicians, religious images and prominent figures from history. It is NOT true that Van Gogh was residing at the same institution (qs reported by Peter Daniels) in a previous newspaper article. Collection of four original Basil Merrett original drawings each with reverse shown. Collection Jim Linderman.

Craft.Two Large Ceramic mid-century Serving dishes with vibrant color

Good color and size on these colorful large dishes. C. 1960 or so? Largest is 20 inches long. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Labor Day Whirligig

Exhausted man. Antique Folk Art Whirligig of two working men Dull Tool Dim Bulb Archives

Tobacco Tags of the 19th Century. Thing to Collect

Tin Tobacco Tags of the late 19th century. Today, everything is branded, even individual pieces of fruit! These represent early branding of tobacco. With each no larger than a coin, and some smaller than a dime, one has to lean in and squint to appreciate them. I scanned some for you. I don't collect them, but I found a huge pile of them. An instant collection! The tiny tags were stuck on plugs of chewing tobacco and also on bags of smoking tobacco. Some were redeemable for gifts…but you had to just about acquire cancer to get enough to trade in. The ones shown are 1880 to 1920 for the most part. Paper printed labels took over then. Even a hundred years later, they turn up often. There seems to be some valuable ones, but I'm not going to take the time to sort them out. Tin Tobacco Tags late 19th Century collection Jim Linderman

The Strange House of George and George the Strange

The Strangest House in the World : George Daynor Fights (the) Depression. New Jersey resident George Daynor stands before his muck house in 1939. Press photograph with caption on reverse. Some "outsider" artists who build environments are shy, but Daynor was Howard Finster with an even bigger bent for attention. An early fame whore. He used his junk-made Vineland environment to attract visitors and fame. Here is an excerpt from Wiki: "George Daynor claims that he was guided to New Jersey by an angel, who provided the design for the palace. Completed on Christmas Day 1932, the palace was built on 7 acres which cost him seven dollars. Daynor said that his palace was "the greatest piece of originality ever brought about in the history of Man." He would charge 25 cents for a tour. Daynor was a publicity hog and claimed to be "the most photographed man in the world." After Peter Weinberger was kidnapped on 4 July 1956, Daynor called the FBI and falsely reported that the kidnappers had visited the palace. The FBI followed the false claim and Daynor was imprisoned for a year. The Palace of Depression was linked with another disappearance, that of William Ebenezer Jones III, who went missing in 1962; the grounds of the Palace of Depression were dug up, but no body was ever found." Not much of the joint left...only the ticket booth. Plenty about George and his Palace of Depression on the Web, but I don't see this pic. Press photograph 1939 Collection Jim Linderman

Folk Art Striking Handmade Table Top

An antique folk art rug or table cover from Victorian days, when there was time to make things...and make things beautiful. 21" x 34" and dating to 1890 or so. Since I am posting this piece, I would like to bring attention to my favorite folk art book title "Anonymous was a Woman" which while more often than not true, it is also a lovely sentiment. The book discusses what was flippantly called "Women's work" in all manner of craft, art and more. I am sure the book is long out of print, but used copies are very cheap and worth every penny. Handmade Folk Art Rug circa 1890 collection Jim Linderman

Antique wood carving of a couple "coupled" Risque American Folk Art Sculpture

A Folk Art Carving of a Couple "coupled" Antique Risque Motion Toy circa 1930 collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Pig on a Stick! Pair of Folk Art Handmade Pigs on Sticks for. a school parade, circa 1940 - 1950. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Large handmade pigs on sticks! Handmade and sewn pigs used as parade staffs by children. Likely in a school parade. All original, circa 1940 - 1950. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb