Anonymous early folk art drawing "Are You A Princess" circa 1920 in Crayon

Circa 1920 anonymous crayon drawing "Are you a Princess" While crayons were invented around 1905, by 1920 they are in general use. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

True Crime Dull Tool Dim Bulb. The Great Iuka Illinois Bank Robbery of 1921 Original Drawing

A rare first person account of a 1921 bank robbery in Iuka, Illinois. Obviously a notorious day for the residents…but there isn’t enough printed material to write a screenplay. The drawing provides more color than the press. Here there is enough to write a song! the one substantial article found is enough to confirm that yes, bank employee Miss Kelley did leap into her Essex automobile to give chase! Surely a local hero. The account from The Chicago Banker of February 11, 1922 reports “Ed Hall, 19 years old of Flora was found guilty here of robbery in connection with the holding up of the State Bank of Iuca, December 20, in which over 18,000 was stolen. Hall’s younger brother, Lex, 17 years old, who was indicted with him, was found not guilty. The younger Hall had twenty-one witnesses to prove his alibi that he was in Flora, Ill. at the time of the robbery. Ed hall tried to prove that he was at Kincaid, Ill. at the time of the robbery. Mildred Kelly, 22-year employee at the bank, who gave chase in an automobile after the robbery, identified Ed Hall as one of the participants in the robbery. The Hall Brothers were arrested December 26.” Unfortunately, I find nothing written about “the semi-professional ball player” or Lester. Original drawing 1921 collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Wooden Lumberjack at the Snohomish, Washington Grange State Fair 1936 Folk Art Sculpture Real Photo Postcard

Wooden Lumberjack at the Snohomish, Washington Grange State Fair 1936. The fair continues to this day. Real Photo Postcard collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

Folk Art Ventriloquist Figures

Chatterboxes! Pair of Antique Folk Art Vent Figures early 20th century. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

In EXCESS deo! Christmas stamp collection from some spoiled / lucky kid c. 1950 Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

In EXCESS deo! Christmas stamp collection from some spoiled / lucky kid c. 1950 Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog

Cedar Creek Charlie Fields Folk Art Sculptures from a long lost folk art environment and the book by Elinor Lander Horwitz Contemporary American Folk Artists

Three remaining folk art sculptures made by Cedar Creek Charlie. There aren't too many of them around. Of course, Mr. Fields is one of the earliest 20th century yard art creators. I've done a few posts over the years on Charlie as it was a friend of mine who paid the rights to salvage (and save) significant portions of his house. By the time they got to it the place had been ravaged by vandals. So much so that in 1990, when the Rosenak encyclopedia of American Folk Art was published, they wrote "Probably only about ten objects from the whole house and his environment survive." One if them, the "Polka--Dotten Crucifiction" wasn't even made by Charlie. It was made by a prisoner and Charlie only added the polka dots. So, they were wrong. On the other hand, I recently bought a copy of the Elinor Lander Horwitch book Contemporary American Folk Artists for the third time. Both my other copies were lost while moving. It's still available as an out-of-print book for less then ten bucks if one is patient. There have been numerous writings on Charlie but this one is still the best. No errors...and she faithtully shares pictures of both the place and the Museum of Appalachia collection. There were ten objects by Charlie there alone. I guess the Rosenaks missed them. Contemporary American Folks Artists remains a VERY entertaing survey from the earliest days of discovering these self-taught geniuses. I later learned her son was the late Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Horwitz and the mother of journalist Geraldine Brooks! So, the objects here were "insiders" in that that were installed in Charlie's house rather than spread out in the yard. The yard, which originally included a Ferris Wheel, a giant airplane and functioning Polka-dot Beehouses, was trashed. Howard Campbell and Marcus King preserved much of the exterior including the famous front door. For some revealing photographs of Charlie's yard, see SUSAN CHANDLER'S FIND A GRAVE post HERE Three objects by Cedar Creek Charlie Fields c. 1950 - 1960. (Sign Holder jar, repurposed Ball jar and Talcum power cannister. Tallest 20". Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Greenback Castle Fortress of Faith in Tennessee : An Excursion by Jacob the Carpetbagger

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to come upon a magical "Folk Art Enviroment" as they are called, the spiritual construction of Floyd Bankes Junior fits the bill. Brought to you by Jacob the Carpetbagger, a most cordial and genial host. Jacob is closing in on a half million youtube followers. He brings his trademark indefatigable excitment to this place you have to see. I hate to crib content from his film, I hope he doesn't mind me sharing. I have been a fan for a long time, and his post of April 12, 2022 is, for our purposes exactly the thrill one expects to see! Follow him, support him and subscribe. You'll get a postcard from him once a month if you conribute to his Patreon Channel. I don't have half the energy for road trips but he does a fine job for me. I'll let his film do the rest of the talking. Words fail me! LINK TO JACOB THE CARPETBAGGER

Juvenile Art Trace and Color in Crayon

Anonymous juvenile artist takes instructions literally...and traces the TITLE PAGE! Original page and corresponding traced page from Trace and Color Merrill Publishing 1937 each 11" x 15" Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Art Brut from Detroit Michigan Sam Mackey

The little known work of Sam Mackey is shown here from several institutional collections. Mr. Macky was the grandfather of Tyree Guyton, creator of Heidelberg Project, a long standing (and constantly changing) folk art environment in Detroit. Mr. Guyton has said his grandfather was an inspriation on his own work. I am not sure how widely Sam Mackey's work has been publicly shown, if at all. Some 25 years ago I was fortunate to see of number of originals in New York courtesy of a friend who had the work sent to him for approval. Great work, and work which I believe is quite scarce. The art here is dated circa 1987 - 1992. Crayon and pencil on paper. Images of Sam Mackey work from the following sources: Knight Foundation The Wayne State University Collection For art and artists(blog) University of Michigan Museum of Art

Antique American Folk Art Drawing of a Wild Turkey

An early folk art drawing of a wild turkey. Signature appears to read "S.G. Fry" with no date. C. 1890 - 1910. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

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Mexican Comic Book Fantasia Horror Mystery and Gore Which Knows No Border!

 



Fantasia Ad circa 1954 Scanned by Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Fantasia from Mexico!  Mexican Comic Book Graphic Novel Fantasia 

There was a Fantasia not produced by Disney, and it was a comic book which came from south of the Rio Grande.  This one had "all the imagination of the most extraordinary and rapporteurs of the fantastic real, poured in..." according to the pitch and my translator.  From the illustrations I can believe it.  A graphic novel or comic book from Mexico circa 1954.  I don't find a copy on my least favorite auction site, but I had to scroll through plenty of hits for the one in which Mickey runs from brooms.

Horror, Mystery, Fantasy and Reality you will find on the creepy pages of Fantasia!  It makes me want a time machine and a border pass to go find some issues. 60 years ago.  I don't know if the Mexican comic book industry had a "golden age" but it seems the illustrations are universal, as these resemble all those Dr. Wertham found offensive.  Gore knows no border! 

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Neutered Newsstand! Gimmie Pulp and Wildcat Adventures Dull Tool Dim Bulb

A demented Captain Sully celebrates safe landing with a bottle of champagne (top).  A man in slim-fit  Dockers wields a Bunsen burner against wild prison girls.   Japanese buffoons guffaw as minks on strings have their way with a staked tourist.  Central Park strollers are left for dead after their meal at the Tavern on the Green (Ambiance 4 stars.  Food 1 star)   A living ship's figurehead is saved by an island-dwelling tan man with a burp gun. An unfortunate with no winter coat purloins a harpoon to fend off Big White so he can freeze in the arms of his mink-collar woman friend.  An obviously insane Baron von Leprachaun comes hunting el-boffo game. And AGAIN with the fire, this time Shicklgrubers thug.

Every woman a wanton and every man a man wanting a women!

It is no WONDER magazines today are withering on the rack like tomato plants lacking water.  There's no JUICE left at the newsstand.  Where is MY Naked Daughter of Papua? When can I fend off Hitler's woman burner?  (that fire gadget again!)  What do I get?  The new Swimsuit issue once a year and perennial world traveler Nat Geo?  The Galapagos Islands AGAIN?  Let's jazz things UP there Hearst.  Stop putting do-little Jennifer Aniston on the cover and give us some red meat with our big media lies.  We're MEN here.

Wildcat Adventures published for 5 years, and everyone of them was on the rack for impressionable ME.  I didn't buy or read any…I used the library and these obviously did not meet the rigorous selection standards.  Candar Publishing was responsible.  I read the Hardy Boys instead. 
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The Glory of Taxidermy (or Going Rogue) Dull Tool Dim Bulb

 

I am not sure why taxidermists so often freeze their subjects in fight rather than flight.  It makes for dramatic presentation, but most animals I have come across in my life have been either running or skulking away.  I even came upon a mother bear and her cubs once, and while it was us who did the running, I don't recall even a nasty look from mom.  She was just lumbering along the top of a ridge with the pups, but if I shot her and turned her over to the taxidermist, she would come back to me full grimace with extended claws.

It does make for an incongruous snapshot.  Kitty, Little Betsy and Rover…God's creatures frozen by embalming fluid, the camera shutter and a command respectively.

Our taxidermist uses a photography trick I use as well.  Putting a white sheet behind the subject for contrast.  In my case, it is seldom to hide anything from the neighbors.  I don't have a posing rock pedestal either. 

These photos all came from the same fellow, and I am pleased to see he was into his hobby deep enough to have visited a museum of same.

 If it sounds like I am being critical, I'm not.  If someone wants to mount a trophy, or even refer to a living creature now dead as a trophy, it isn't MY thing, but I am tolerant and secure enough in my own beliefs so as not to force them on others.  Usually.

I'll see if there are any interesting taxidermy facts online.   WHOA.  For one thing, I'm clearly living in hunting territory, as the first ten hits are for guys in my county who will mount your kill for you.  Thanks google…your search protocols are so effective, but my query is of a intellectual nature, and I do not have anything in the trunk needing gutting.

Well…taxidermy started with Egyptian mummies.  Fish are harder to do than mammals.  Freeze-drying is becoming taxidermy of choice.  The technique of creating jackanapes and such (fake Frankenstein creatures as a joke) is called "Rogue taxidermy" and is sneered upon by true taxidermists…but of course that is the folks I will link to.   
HERE

Lot of Taxidermy Snapshots circa 1930-1940 Collection Jim Linderman

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Postcard Collage of Clippings Homeward Bound to Alice collection Jim Linderman

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It was once quite a thing to receive a postcard, and all the better if it was homemade.  This magnificently one-of-a kind card was actually part of a series.  Entirely handmade in collage technique from clippings taken from advertisements and catalogs, it was made for a woman named Alice in South Orange.

Note the handwritten #1 in the upper right hand corner, the only part of the card not clipped, and on the reverse is written "First of a series of instructive postals" but unsigned.  I am going to guess our primitive but accomplished collage artist was literally on his way back to Alice, and at each opportune moment took the time to construct a report from the road.  I like to think one was sent each night.  How far or arduous the journey will never be known.

The date shown on the cancellation is hard to make out, but I am guessing close to the 1900 date.  Postcards were a penny then and for a long time after.


Anonymous handmade postcard to Miss Alice Osborne  Date Unclear.  Collection Jim Linderman

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