Jim Linderman blog about surface, wear, form and authenticity in self-taught art, outsider art, antique american folk art, antiques and photography.
Nyla Gladine Thompson (1927-1969) Texas Outsider Art by a Polio Victim The Landscape Paintings Collection Jim Linderman
19th Century Folk Art Outsider Art Drawing on Flattened Prang Christmas Card Box Man, Woman, Horse
Rare Photographs of Justin McCarthy and Elijah Pierce 1972 at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Two Man Show
Outsider Art from The Seaside Psychiatric Hospital in Waterford Ct circa 1950-1970
African-American Yard Show Outsider Art Folk Art Environment Assemblage Art Alabama c. 1993
SuperBabe The Most Powerful Black Beauty in the World B.E. Riddick c. 1970 Outsider Art Colllection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb
Caroline Goe Missing NYC Street Artist and Outsider Art collection Jim Linderman
Israel Litwak Mountaindale, NY 1938. Self-Taught "Primitive" art Outsider Collection Jim Linderman
Albert Freeman Pair of Folk Art Portraits c. 1940 Collection Jim Linderman Outsider Art
Sylvia Roberti "Birds in a Border" Outsider Art collection Jim Linderman
Outsider art Folk art Baseball Greats Collection Jim Linderman
Lisa Z. Sigel The People's Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America Book Review
Lisa Sigel is an audacious scholar. Her field of study is old as the species, but still appears to scare the pants off academia. None of us would be here if it weren't for sexual activity and that makes it one of the most important areas for study, yet Sigel's afterword details a harrowing pattern of denied fellowships, grant rejections and any interest at all from cultural institutions. Their eyes are closed.
The author writes that "there are no big grants or prizes for the study of pornography. Foundations, ever since the year of the Mapplethorpe (1990) do not fund general scholarship on pornography or erotica and most institutions will be penalized with cuts in federal funding if they inadvertently discuss erotic objects." Meanwhile, Facebook continues to figure out how to eliminate errant female nipples from postings through artificial intelligence.
It might be a stretch, but in some ways this compares to the reluctance of art institutions to accept the work of folk and outsider artists. Nearly one hundred are illustrated here. They will certainly open some eyes, although most of the wondrous objects shown in The People's Pornography have yet to find any acceptance at all. That is except for those owned by a handful of adventurous collectors and the Kinsey Institute. One characteristic of all the work shown is their scarcity. Think of the amount of material tossed by horrified surviving family members if they came across some of the art shown here.
Sigel takes on all manner of handmade and homemade erotic objects. They may look pornographic but all reflect true human emotions the makers struggled with. Or simply enjoyed. They display humor (hilarious gag objects intended to surprise) or extreme violence, such as the work created in prison by imaginations which might be out of control. Still, all exist and all are worthy of appraisal.
Sigel also takes on what those here will recognize as "term warfare" as we figure out how to categorize and understand art made by the creative impulses of the untrained. Maybe there are outsiders and WAY outsiders. Just flipping through the images here will shock some. Well…many. Others might remember familiar "dirty jokes" traded among classmates. Although this is a scholarly and historical approach, Sigel manages to provide a highly readable narrative. She writes like other recent authors who popularize science (think Mary Roach and Caitlin Doughty). This book isn't just for the pictures.
There have been several other books on erotic folk art. Milt Simpson, who recently celebrated his 95th birthday, published the lovely Folk Erotica: Celebrating Centuries of Erotic Americana in 1994.. Thomas Waugh's book Out / Lines : Underground Graphics from Before Stonewall provides scores of homemade gay pornography in 1982. Lisa Sigel's own article "Flagrant Delights" in Antiques Magazine July/August 2014 is also recommended.
Purchase The People's Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America HERE
Lisa Sigel bibliography of books and publications HERE
Outsider Art Journalism from Home! Douglas Levicki Amateur Homedrawn Newspaper from England
Naive Outsider Art of Moses Baker
Junior After Hit by Bronko Pencil Drawing c. 1950 by Mildred Julia Radalis
Junior After Hit by Bronko Pencil Drawing c. 1950 by Mildred Julia Radalis. A drawing which would have fit into yesterday's Outsider Art Fair post! Upside the HEAD. Original drawing collection Jim Linderman
I'm not at the Outsider Art Fair 2020 Annual Post Children's Art Art Brut ?
From the start, I've avoided refrigerator art. I suppose every child for the last hundred years in the United States has been handed paints and brushes in class at some time. However, it is the exceptional students I look for. Quirky examples with both beauty and some wonder…those with a little extra drive and motivation. In each case, I will link to further pieces which have been posted here. Hopefully, what will be revealed is a dozen categories of interest.
Boys like to draw war and weapons. It is unfortunate we live in a world in which they are common. Still, the most lovely and interesting work can be characterized by the same creative impulses which arise in in a child in a manner similar to that of talented adults. Kenneth Hetrick 1931
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In this case, it is a schoolgirl drawing the Man of Steel and Lois. A good example of art influenced by popular culture, yet still showing an individualistic approach. Audrey K. circa 1950
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Handmade books by children are common. Here, a schoolgirl creates a nice one using the preferred paper of children. Manila! Darlene Olds 1934 Original Post
Pages from a miniature cookbook 4" x 6" created circa 1940 - 1945 by Carol Birkett and her friend Patty. Original text directions and a few clipped from magazines. Original Post
The cover of a handmade sewing manual created as a class assignment. The woman on the cover is reading her own book! Anonymous Circa 1950? Original post
Story of the Corn from scarecrow to the popper! A narrative by an anonymous 19th century child.
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Art lessons in crayon. Anonymous practice design reflecting school training circa 1910.
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Dazzling detail on an Ohio schoolhouse by Ora Maxwell circa 1890. It is often difficult to determine if a drawing is "folk art" or "art by a child" as any distinctions can blur. Original Post
A Jester performs. An example from the numerous "coloring books" distributed in the late 19th century. This drawing was copied from a commercial example provided for students to replicate in their own hand. Anonymous circa 1900 Original Post
Examples of pre-punched sewing cards which were popular in teaching situations from 1880 on. Young woman were taught the skills of domestic chores...and the subject matter was often religious. Moral instruction while learning dexterity. Anonymous completed sewing cards.
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The last examples are cheating, as they were drawn by a "Magic Pattern" toy from the 1930s or so. Similar to the later common Spirograph! Still, likely "drawn" by a child.
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There are plenty of other beautiful examples of art created by the young. I avoid the psychological and developmental implications when looking for examples to collect. I'll leave that up to the educators! Many more examples are found on the blog.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF I'm not at the outsider art show ARE FOUND ON THE BLOG WITH A CLICK...but one can just browse. See also this CLICK. Many of the examples here were self published in my book Eccentric Folk Art Drawings of the 19th and 20th Centuries available in a paperback or an affordable instant download.