Folk Art Auction

Hewlett's Auctions will be selling Rolf Graves art and artifacts collection for him on June 9.  Mr Graves is easing his way towards retirement and selling off items from his Lodi California Gallery. A 15.5% buyers premium applies.(which is pretty modest compared to some auction houses). The auctioneer also provides information on local packaging and shipping options.   Take a look.  dave

Purvis Young Painting from Rolf Graves Collection

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/40874_art-and-estate-of-rolf-graves-auctions/page1

From the Rubble of the Oklahoma Tornado

2000

In June of 2000, three months after my mother died.  I drove back to see my dad in southern Illinois with my kids in tow.  Cole was 13 and Leah was 5. My wife Julie stayed back in Washington to direct a Girl Scout Camp.  We took a side trip down to Atlanta with my dad to visit my nephew and his wife.  Now I had heard of Howard Finster before, because he had designed the album cover for The Talking Heads 'Little Creatures' 1985.  But, I didn't know much at all about American Outsider Art.

My nephew Scott told me that Howard Finster's Paradise Gardens was not that far out of the way when we were leaving to return to Illinois.   So, on the way back to my dad's place we took a little detour and stopped in at Paradise Gardens.

My dad waited in the car while the kids and I went up to check out the gardens.  It was something like $5 per person, maybe a discount for the kids.  Anyway, we were 5 cents shy of what we needed for the 3 of us to get in.  The lady running the show that day waited patiently while I ran back to the car and got 5 cents more from my dad.  Howard was not there that day, he was in the hospital having leg surgery. We explored the gardens though (it freaked 5 year old Leah out) and  afterwards looked at Howard's art in the little attached gift shop.  I didn't have enough money to buy anything but the place left an impression on me.  When I got back home out to Washington State I typed Howard Finster's name into the computer and it opened up the whole world of outsider art for me.  I was soon learning about Mose Tolliver and Jimmy Lee Sudduth and Myrtice West and John Henry Toney.  It was great, overwhelmingly awesome.  I wondered why I had never heard about all this wonderful American art before.  I studied film and theater in college and was in love with art, Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, O'Keefe, Pollock, all the European/American trained masters.  But this art blew me away. It was so American and I felt my soul attracted to it.  Somewhere deep inside I was moved and wanted to know more about this art and have it around me.  I wished I had discovered it years before so I could have gotten to know more of the artists and gone to Kentuck Fest when Howard and Mose and Jimmy Lee were regular fixtures.  But, I DID discover it, and I did get to meet Jimmy, Mose, Myrtice, Bernice Sims, Woodie Long, Eric Legge, Annie Tolliver, and many others.  It's changed my life and educated me. The art has humbled me and given me a purpose.  I will forever be grateful that I made that stop at Paradise Gardens and was 5 cents short on the entry fee.     dave

Loss of our Friend

We are saddened today to announce the loss of our friend, Al Nejmah.  Al was a Tacoma firefighter and he died of a heart attack in the line of duty trying to help someone else.  Al was a unique, wonderful man. He did a lot of living and experiencing in 59 years. Ship captain, mountain climber, firefighter, guitarist, builder, adventurer, humanitarian, and an all around great human being.  A renaissance man.  Peace and comfort to you Al. You left us too soon. 

 Jenell, Al, Dave 2011

Live for ART

Here's some miscellaneous images from Dave's photo archive.

Eric Legge adding more art to the back of one of his paintings

Faces from one of Eric's paintings he was selling at Kentuck Fest. Wish I had bought it.

Here's a little mixed media piece that I(Dave) created called, 'Bob 65'


Some of the past and present art from Dos Folkies Gallery

 
Mose Tolliver 'China Doll in Italy' from Dave's personal collection.

Just want to say thanks to all the folks who have been checking out our blog the past few months.  THANKS... dave and jenell

Missionary Mary Proctor

Mary Proctor and Mother's Day.  

 Think about it.

                                            I Love You Mom-Keep Flying

Find more Missionary Mary Proctor at Dos Folkies Gallery

NEW RAW VISION

Raw Vision Issue 78 for Spring 2013 is now available at Dos Folkies Gallery

This issue features an article by John Turner on Howard Finster and his obsession with Elvis.