7.03.2012

signs and wonders

Herman Finney
Sign over the entrance to his studio and display area
c. 1970s

George Morris at his
"Gotno Farm" environment
1986

Raymond Coins
Born 1904
Raymond and his "Family"
1981

James Lowery standing next to his
"Self-Portrait"
1984

Willie Brooks with his
"Bottle Crucifix"
1988

Vernon Burwell
Born 1916
Vernon in his garage
1985

Jimmy Courson with his Coast Guard
"Pile-Driver" vessel
1985

Almetta "Aunt Met" Brooks
Born 1903
Met holding the "Tiger Head" she made the day 
John Glenn orbited the earth.
1988

Charlie Swaim in front of his chicken shed at his
"Oakwood Kennel and Appalachian Bee Farm"
1983

Herman Bridgers
Born 1912
In front of his "churchmen" figures
in front of his house
1988

Hermon G. Finney
1932-1988
Herman with his
"Jasper the Red-Headed Butcher"
c. 1954

Harold Garrison
Born 1923
Harold holding his 1974
"Democratic Party Gun"
1986

Russell Gillespie
Born 1922
Russell holding his
"Mountain Cabin Scene"
1988

Annie Hooper
1897-1986
Annie with her writings
1983

Bill Johnson with his
"Freedom Car"
1988

James Harold Jennings
Born 1931
James in front of his school bus workshop

Austin G. Sutton
Austin holding his own
1988

Clyde Jones
Born 1938
Clyde holding his "Pig"
1980

William Owens
Born 1908
William with his
"Separation of Church and State"
1981

Vollis Simpson
Born 1919
Vollis standing next to one of his "wind machines"
1988

Q. J. Stephenson
Born 1920
Q inside his 
"Occoneechee Trapper's Lodge"
1981

Arliss Watford
Born 1924
Arliss with some of his cedar and cypress knee sculptures
1986

Jeff Williams
Born 1958
Jeff standing next to his 1982 "African Head"
1986

Willie Brooks with two of his whirligigs.
1986

Otis Hall standing in his front yard.
1987

George Morris with "Dogs" at his "Gotno Farm"
1986

John Lilley
Sign from the "Peaceville Valley" environment
c.1970-82

All images from:
"Signs and Wonders: Outsider Art Inside North Carolina"
by Rodger Manley
North Carolina Museum of Art
Raleigh
1989

4 comments:

  1. really interesting collection of images. are they part of a commune ?

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  2. Katie- No commune, just simple country folks from all over North Carolina doing their own thing. I'm pretty sure none of them were even aware of the others. Visionary artists....

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  3. How much more would I rather spend an afternoon with them than Damien Hirst...

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  4. ff- Maybe, but you would be in for a HEAVY dose of religion with most of them... heavy drinking or heavy religion... tough choice.... ;)

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