Still Feeling Folksy

Retablos in the Nonomaque Home

from the Dallas Morning News

Photo by Rex C. Curry

Folk art has so many facets it is really hard for me to pick just one type to love. But, I think that if you made me pick, it would be Latin American folk art. More specifically, Mexican Catholic folk art.

The Holy Family

The University of New Mexico Collection

While it often doesn't depict the lightest of subjects, I'd have to say that devotional art is the type most dear to me. I am drawn to it both as a Catholic and an art lover. But, I don't think you have to be a Catholic to appreciate the layers of tradition and emotion that go into crafting devotional art pieces.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The University of New Mexico Collection

I am particularly fond of retablos, which are devotional works painted on a thin sheet of tin.

Saint Wilgefortis, Virgin and Martyr

The University of New Mexico Collection

Retablos were meant to be used for devotion, much like the way we use holy cards today. They were created to be touched, kissed and held so naturally, they didn't fair too well with age. They were often framed in ornate tin frames and hung on a wall or used in an altar piece.

Saint Joseph and the Christ Child

The University of New Mexico Collection

The University of New Mexico has the largest collection of retablos in the US, with over 1,700 works dating back to the 1800's. Their entire collection has been carefully restored in an effort to preserve them for future generations of worshipers and art lovers alike.

Our Lady of Refuge

The University of New Mexico Collection

If you would like more information on their vast collection, please visit their website.

If you are interested in purchasing a retablo of you own, you don't have to go to Latin America to find one. Here are some fantastic pieces for sale online, and while I cannot vouch for their authenticity, they would certainly make a beautiful addition to your home. This representation of Our Lady of the Sacred Cave (which was recently sold) has to be is one of my favorites.

Feeling Folksy

Fall always puts me in the mood for folk art. There is just something about American folk painting that just warms me up from the inside out. Call it nostalgia.

Luna Park circa 1964

Fall also puts me in the mood for a trip to the Big Apple.

Wall Street circa 1964

Vestie Davis was an American folk artist with a fondness New York and New Yorkers.

Outdoor Art Show

Mr. Davis was born in Maryland in 1903 and didn't pick up painting until he was well into his 40's. His bright and busy paintings of his adopted home town quickly gained attention.

Bethesda Fountain circa 1964

They graced the pages of the New Yorker and Newsweek and many of his originals now reside in the permanent collection at the American Folk Art Museum.

Don't you just want to be a part of it? ;)

PS. Sorry for the absence. My life has looked a lot like a Vestie Davis painting lately, busy!

Art you can aim at

I love, love, love this.

September 2007 issue of Architectural Digest

It's an antique shooting gallery target. They come in all shapes and sizes. Here's a more primitive one from the early 1900's:

Artisans of Mentone, Alabama

It would make a wonderful paper weight on a fancy, never-used designer desk that looks nothing like mine.

And this one from Coney Island (I know, so cool) would be an amazing conversation starter:

East Market Street Antiques

These squirrels from Sniktaw Antiques are hilarious:

Squirrels and Hunters

And these colorful antique archery targets from a French carnival are lovely too:

Sniktaw Antiques

While I like the whimsical targets more, this archery target with detailed carving is a must for a man room.

via

To Stitch or Not to Stitch?

When I was little my mom taught me how to cross stitch. I was really into if for a few months but then I stopped for like, 15 years. Now I'm thinking about starting it up again. Cross stitch is one of those things you never forget how to do. Plus, it's totally mindless so you can do it in front of the TV or at the pool or in line at the DMV or where ever.

So what do you think? Should I take up this traditional folk craft again or is it too...what's the phrase...

Golden Girls Cross Stitch Pattern

by Cinnamon Woods Crafts

Speaking of old, cross stitch has been around for centuries. It can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty in China (618-906 AD) and has been a popular women's craft in virturally every culture since the middle ages. (1)

We saw some gorgeous examples of Chinese cross stitch and embroidery on a recent trip to China but unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures! (When a communist government says no pictures, they mean no pictures.) Chinese street markets and shops are filled all kinds of hand stitching, from exquisitely ornate to hideously tacky. I did alot of browsing, but in the end I didn't bring any home. The prices for works of noticeably good quality were steep and I wasn't willing to take any chances on buying something that was a fake.

Here are two beautiful examples of Chinese needlework from Ruby Lane:

Quiq Framed Embroidery, c. 18th century

Nicole La Bay via Ruby Lane

Suzhlou Silk Birds, c. 1950's

Bittersweet Antiques via Ruby Lane

By the 1600's the popularity of the Sampler was on the rise. (1) The first known sampler was made by a British woman named Jane Bostocke in 1598 and it is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Samplers grew to play a major role in the education of young girls and traditionally included the alphabet and numbers. More detailed works included bible verses and primitive depictions of animals and flowers.

As the role of women in society and the work place changed and technology evolved, samplers become simply an amusing pastime. By the WWII, the cross stitch sampler's popularity had waned almost completely.

Antique Sampler

Ken's Antiques and Auctions of

Kingston, Georgia, Photo via Luxist Blog

Lately, cross stitch has seen a bit of a revival, which I believe is thanks to the wide variety of clever free patterns available online. As both a nerd and a child of the late 80's, this one by Johloh cracks me up:

Duck Hunt Cross Stitch

from Spite Stitch

(PS: Johloh runs a website called Sprite Stitch, which is dedicated to "Video Game Crafts." I kid you not.)

While I do believe that the basset hound would look really good in a Duck Hunt bandana, I think I'm going to start out with one of these cute printable patterns by Andwabisabi Cross Stitch:

1) The Cross Stitch Guild, Threads of History by Jo Verso

Happy B-day!

Linda is my wonderful mother-in-law and today is her birthday! She is an extremely talented quilter and has a great eye for American folk art. So, in honor of her birthday, I thought I would talk about a particular type of folk art that she loves, game boards:

Penny Toss Game Board

c. 1930

Available from 1st Dibs

Game boards have been lovingly made by American craftsmen for generations. The one pictured above was originally used as a carnival game during the Great Depression. These unusual pieces of folk art aren't exactly being played with at fairs anymore. These days, colorful game boards are used for decoration and are often hung in eye catching groupings of 3 or more.

This fall we had the pleasure of visiting with the very talented game board artist, Diane Allison, in her Boone, NC studio. Diane's hand-painted reproduction game boards have appeared on the pages of Country Living and grace the walls of homes throughout the country.

Gypsy- Penny Pinch by Diane Allison

Her series based on the quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama is a very unique (and hugely popular) twist on game board art. They are a beautiful juxtaposition of two great American folk arts and some of Linda's favorites!

For more details and beautiful pictures, visit Diane's website.

Six: A Perfect Tree

We are very blessed, for lots of reasons. This is one of them:

Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
Photo by Hugh Morton

Jenny and I were raised in a beautiful state, with rugged mountains filled with perfect trees. Growing up, my favorite book was about one of these perfect trees, grown on the peak of my favorite mountain in Avery County, NC.


Appalachian writer Gloria Houston's book, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, tells the story of Ruthie, a little girl who picks out the perfect Christmas tree with her daddy before he leaves to fight in WWI. While the story is wonderful, the illustrations really make the book.

Ruthie

Houston's story is brought to life by award winning illustrator, Barbara Cooney. Ms. Cooney's folk art graces the pages of over 100 books, including 15 books that she authored herself.

Grandfather Mountain

Barbara Cooney
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree

The Brooklyn born artist's long and active career as an illustrator began in the 1940's. In 1959, she was awarded the Caldecott medal for most distinguished children's picture book for her book, Chanticleer and The Fox. She won the award again in 1980 for Ox-Cart Man. (Other Caldecott winner's include Where the Wild Things Are, The Polar Express and Madeline's Rescue.)

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree was published in 1988 and was one of Ms. Cooney's last collaborations. She passed away in 2000 leaving behind a legacy that lives on in the book shelves of millions of children and adults alike.

Feliz Navidad

I've always been a real sucker for Mexican folk art so I was really excited to find this on Etsy last night.

Isn't that wonderful? The detail is charming and the colors are great. You can find them here. They aren't hand painted but the fabric is authentic and the craftsmanship looks really good. I think $17.50 is a steal!

These are adorable too:


I would probably turn them into magnets, but they would be cute on a little girl's Christmas dress or hot glued to a head band.

And look at these:


Generally, I'm not a huge fan of skulls in art (or on clothes or jewelry). But the skeletons in Mexican folk art are usually pretty friendly looking, almost cute. I wouldn't mind having a few of these glittery sugar skulls hanging in my kitchen.