untitled work, Martin Ramirez, The Last Works exhibit

Exhibits of Martin Ramirez’s (1895-1963) last pieces created in the three years before his death, will be featured at the American Folk Art Museum and Ricco Maresca.

His unique works, which included drawings and collages, were also unique in their creation. He is known for being resourceful when creating, with such techniques as using paste made from potato starch, bread and saliva and using magazine pages as canvases.

These later works featured in the exhibits explore abstract architectural designs, with a great focus on lines.

Many in the art world debate whether the evolution of his later work depict the decline of his mental health into paranoid schizophrenia or if the evolution is just a response to the growing trends in the 1960s. Either way, Ramirez’s work has had great impact on American folk art history.
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The Last Works Exhibit at American Folk Art Museum
Martin Ramirez exhibit at Ricco Maresca

Melisssa Menzer's "Mouse", part of the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art/Gallery discussed in article

With the holiday season fast approaching, many folk art festivals and craft shows will be popping up everywhere. Festivals and shows in your area can provide a great source of holiday gifts and decorations. Collectors can find unique pieces to share with family during holiday celebrations. Many folk artists’ inspirations come from traditions, such as family and holiday traditions. What better gifts to give this holiday season than unique folk art pieces created out of the joy of tradition. Folk artists take joy in sharing their work to make others’ holidays more special. The article below discusses the Festival of Trees and museum displays in Florida featuring folk art. To find folk art festivals and craft shows near you, check your local newspapers, community web sites, or grocery story bulletin boards. I’m sure you can find something near you to kick off this holiday shopping season.

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Sailor Jerry design

Sailor Jerry Homeward Bound Sticker

The unique art work and tattoo designs of legendary American folk artist Sailor Jerry, will be celebrated in the UK in November. The Art of Sailor Jerry Exhibition, which will feature his work, will be the first time Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins’ work will be displayed in the UK. The exhibition will celebrate his art legacy.

Sailor Jerry tattoos are unique examples of American folk art depicting American folklore, classic pin-up girls, and life at sea. His work that depicts classic American themes has inspired many tattoo artists and clothing designers over the years. His work is an example of folk art influencing  mainstream culture.

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Sailor Jerry Website

"Girl in Red Dress With Cat and Dog," work by Ammi Phillips, 1830-35, National Gallery of Art, Washington

Work by Mark Rothko, 1956, National Gallery of Art, Washington

I recently read an article about the comparisons of two totally different artists and their work. The artists compared were folk artist Ammi Phillips, a 19th century portraitist, and Mark Rothko, an abstract painter who pushed his art to “unprecedented formal extremes” in the 1940s and 1950s.

The article discusses how their works reveal similarities in dealing with surface, color and light. The article goes on to discuss how these artists’ works depict “American-type” art work. Their works do not contain fancy techniques of overtrained European artists, but still hold much dimensional and symbolic value.

Read the fascinating article linked below to learn more about how these two very different artists a century apart, can still hold similarities that tie them into American art history.

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Howard Finister artwork

“Its kind of like a fairy land,” describes the first bride in seven years to be married at Paradise Garden which was created by Howard Finister, who is considered the grandfather of the American folk art movement.

Finister began creating his unique garden in 1961 when the preacher turned artist started using art to spread the word of God. He filled the garden with mosaics, sculptures and houses. Paradise Gardens Park and Museum Inc., owns the four acre plot of land, located in northwest Georgia.

I was fascinated by the idea of this folk art “museum.” I think this would be an ideal trip for any quirky folk artist, collector or anyone interested in experiencing American culture. With the hope to revive FinisterFest, a yearly festival once held by Finister to promote unknown artists, I suggest anyone interested in folk art to keep their eye on the organization’s progress in bringing back a little piece of folk art history.

The nonprofit organization hopes to draw attention to this fading folk art history. The organization hopes to raise $1 million to restore the grounds, buildings and artwork. Today’s economic climate has hindered any real progression towards these goals.

I wanted to post pictures of the garden, but I haven’t found any yet. If I do, I will post them.

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Howard Finister Vision House

Finister Vision House Myspace

Bruce Innis, The Great Chelsea Fire

Baxter Ponder, Noah's Ark

Works from legendary folk artists, such as Sister Gertrude Morgan, will be sold at the Slotin Auction in Buford, Ga., on Nov. 8. American folk art pieces from the collection of Barbara Louviere, the Santos collection of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and artwork from Florida Highwayman will also pass the auction block. The auction will feature nearly 1,000 pieces from a variety of American folk art genres.
This auction will be a great visual display of the American culture through an art form self-taught by its creators. According to the press release, American folk art is the only art form not influenced by European masters and the academic community.

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Slotin Auction Website

Folk art doll

With folk art shows and exhibits popping up everywhere in the next couple of months for the holiday season, some may be wondering what folk art truly is. For some unfamiliar to folk art, they may see work that is odd, even ugly at times, but to the artist and the collector it’s unique and from the heart.
I’ve posted a column that I found to depict folk art quite poignantly. It discusses the mentalities of both folk art artisans and collectors. I encourage you to read this column by Sandy Erdman in preparation for this year’s holiday craft shows.

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Maple top hat from the Knot-Head collection

It’s wearable art that can be found featured in folk art centers across the country. Ten-gallon cowboy hats, top hats and even fishing caps are all featured in the Knot-Head collection.
I recently came across an article about Chris Ramsey, a master wood turner from Somerset, Ky., who started creating these hats while experimenting with his hobby of making bowls. His hats are sold at about $700, and sought after by many. President George W. Bush is a proud owner of one of his pieces.
Ramsey’s collection of hats, called Knot-Head, are wearable works of art. The hats take about 40 hours each to create, and are turned from 120 pound solid blocks of hardwood. The ending piece weighs about 10 ounces.
Ramsey is shocked at his success from a hobby he enjoys greatly.
Ramsey is an example of how expressing oneself and one’s culture through art is very rewarding. Folk art has become a very rewarding hobby for many, and continues to evolve through many different people.

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Knot-Head Website

This article reminds me of my experiences with my grandparents watching them create and study folk art. By working with them or spending time with them at folk art festivals, I learned much about history of the American culture.

I think it’s great for parents and grandparents to take their children and grandchildren to festivals exhibiting crafts, music and more bringing the American history and culture alive.

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This is the twelfth annual festival in which Martin and wife try to keep folk art alive. This festival allows the public to view and celebrate the culture of folk art, as well as partake in this unique culture.

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