crustacean creature feature
the june twenty-sixth b-b-bonus this week in outsider art *paid* newsletter
FIND OF THE WEEK
If it’s not too late, by the time you’re reading this you may still be able to purchase these really spectacular hanker chiefs, hand-drawn on by prisoners in the early 2000s, likely from a prison in Southwest United States or even Mexico — as seen by the Chicano Paño art style.
These, along with a dozen other very nice folk art and self-taught art items are hitting the auction block as we speak as part of Potter & Potter Auctions’ “Outsider, Folk, Contemporary & Fine Art” sale.
EDITOR’S NOTE: it’s been mentioned before, but I do my best to get this out first thing every Wednesday morning. Consistency is key and I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read through this. That said, I do have two young children, one in particular who enjoys sleeping on top of me. For the life of me I can’t figure out why but such is life, and in instances when this does not come out first thing on Wednesday morning it’s likely due to the fact that I was negotiating with a three-year-old who wanted nothing of what I was offering. That is all, thanks for understanding. Back to the regularly scheduled program.
I think it’s safe to say that there are way too many people locked up in this country for a variety of dumb, bad, and racist laws. And too many people who should be locked up, because they continue to break the law and do stupid things. And it’s safe to say there is no joy I get out of glorifying the people who are living in terribly harsh and rough conditions, some may call a humans rights violations, or their artwork.
There is though, something I continue to talk about with anyone who will listen. And that is compulsion. Everyone has ideas in their head, and literally anyone could pick up a pencil or pen and a piece of paper or piece of wood or even a hanker chief and put those ideas down. But to be completely compelled to do so, even in the worst of times, is fascinating. No one is making anyone do this, they are likely not getting paid or even thinking about it. There are many reasons people make art and ceremonial or remembrance is of course, a huge one.
I suppose this is literally the definition of art and I’m over thinking it, yet I still continues to keep me up at night (just kidding that’s my son).
✌️ every wednesday, this bonus newsletter with bonus outsider art content, including exhibit listings, personal collection highlights, and news of the week, will be sent to paid subscribers. The weekly ‘This Week in Outsider Art’ newsletter that goes out every Sunday morning continues to and will always be free of charge — enjoy ✌️
B-B-BONUS
» Jim and Sue Heemstra «
I wrote about my introduction and experience running into my neighbors and possibly new favorite artists, Jim and Sue Heemstra, in Sunday’s newsletter. So I won’t relitigate it here. But I do have a ton of photos I took that I haven’t shared anywhere, and I will share them here!
Above is a video of some of their works, and below you’ll see over a dozen ceramic works that are truly mesmerizing. They almost feel like if Maria Prymachenko and Niki de Saint Phalle watched Alice and Wonderland together and then hopped on a pottery wheel for a week straight.
Please enjoy and let me know if you are interested in any works, all are available for purchase.