Did Josef Albers go to Kindergarten? Here are two circa 1900 (really) woven child's paper works which illustrate Albers "interaction of color" in remarkable prescient form. Once fairly common, but increasingly hard to find, these 19th century schoolgirl craft pieces are among the most underrated forms of early folk art. They often turn up as love tokens or valentines in the shape of hearts and under many different names (folded paper, woven paper, paper weaving, paper cuts and more)...but all are extraordinary miniature works of serious art despite being made for the most part by children. In fact, this technique, now seemingly forgotten except among enlightened educational organizations, was developed by Fredrich Froebel, not only the fellow who did invent kindergarten, but also became an unheralded artistic influence to many. If you are an adult and like art, you should collect the antique originals, they're precious. If you are a parent who would like to get your kid off the computer for a few minutes, find a source for "Froebel's Gifts". There are still high quality boxes of his "theories" being made and sold, mostly in wooden block form. Pair of Kindergarten Paper Weavings, each 4.5" x 4.5" c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman
Old school student composition books seemed to be a good fertile place to look for antique drawings with folky primitive appeal. So I found one. I am guessing the worst students made the best drawings.
"Circulatory System of a Man, Lungs" student biology notebook circa 1880 ink. Collection Jim Linderman
My esteemed blogeague John Foster, whose blog is linked here as Accidental Mysteries recently posted a handful of defaced photos from Square America, another recommended site. They're quite nice and each one tells a story.
Here is a similar image, a circa 1880 tintype with manipulated eyes. Creepy! The fellow's peepers additionally have attempted eyeglasses. The effect is to make the Victorian ladies look like today's crash dummies. I assume a child did it, but then I still doodle on posters and the magazine movie stars just for fun, so who knows. Enhancing, doctoring, tinting and manipulating photographic images didn't start with photoshop (or Life magazine around 1963, heh heh). Tintype photographers regularly colored and painted their product, either at the request of the sitter or just because they could. The deceased who had never had a picture taken were often propped up and captured, later open eyes were painted on so loved ones could remember the departed in a gruesome and artificial manner. Those with chains and jewelry would have gold highlights added on occasion, cheeks were tinted pink on a regular basis.
Original Tintype c. 1880 Collection Jim Linderman
I am in Michigan, a state which might draw up images of snow at this time of year. It should. If I hear the phrase "lake effect" once more, I'll throw up my frozen hands. So, a summer image. Queen size mattress on four hanging chains near St. Helena, South Carolina 1995. Looks comfy, and was."Swinging Mattress" South Carolina 1995 Original 35mm photograph Collection Jim Linderman
A simple life does not mean a trendy "return to basics" with shabby chic country deco, designer hemp rugs on the floor and rustic sourdough bread from your local equivalent of Balducci's... or even "cocooning" if you do it with a huge flat-screen not yet paid for. The average debt on a credit card is approaching $10,000, and even the average college student now carries a $2,000 balance on their card. (That coffee you "swipe your card" for is going to seem awful extravagant when you are still paying for a portion of it 10 years from now). I drive through middle class (umm...make that formerly middle-class) neighborhoods with so much junk in the garage neither of the cars will fit. In 1970, Bob Dylan stunned those who found some type of direction in his music by releasing "New Morning" containing the seemingly banal lyrics "Build me a cabin in Utah/Marry me a girl, catch rainbow trout/Have a bunch of kids who'll call me pa/That must be what its all about, That must be what its all about". Has he ever been wrong?This tar paper looks nice and straight. The radio is free. Bring a banjo."Sister Mate" Real Photo Post Card Anonymous Itinerant c. 1915 Collection Jim Linderman
Alabama, 1994Original 35mm photograph 1994 Collection Jim Linderman
I am afraid my extensive notes do not indicate location of this church. I also do not remember if services were held in the house or the connected "single-wide". As you can see, it was a long stretch of road ahead and I had to be somewhere before dark.Original 35mm photographs c. 1995 Collection Jim Linderman
Now THIS is a fun website and quite an accomplishment. Pick your state. If you are near my age, chances are you'll find the fellows who played at your prom (or tried to). For the record, mine was "The Uncalled Four" and we only played one gig, a battle of the bands. But we beat that greaser band from Muskegon who dared to play Beatles covers. Allow an hour or two, this site is more addictive than u tube.http://www.garagehangover.com/
Robert Howell's rural Virginia environment circa 1992. I did not know his name at the time. A good friend of mine told me about it, but he didn't want to go. I knocked and yelled to see if anyone was home, the place certainly looked abandoned and the sculptures had a wonderful presence of abandon as well. As I was leaving, Mr. Howell appeared with with a double barrel shotgun aimed at my head. My first thought was what a scattering of buckshot would look like on a rental car. I do know it was the the first time, and hopefully the last time, I will say "put the gun down". Three times. My understanding is that since I visited, someone "bought" these sculptures, but this I am not sure of, and if they did, more power to them. If you would like to go visit and see if they are still available, be my guest. Four Kodak snapshots c. 1992 Collection Jim Linderman
