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25 Feb 2008 7:56 PM

...i went to a Contemporary Folk Art Show today at Fearrington Village in North Carolina set in the countryside on a farm of oreo cows and whirleygigs. As my mother, sister, i, and my dog max (who sat front row center in the car as usual) drove down the country lane to the parking lot, i spotted the artist's cars that were all whimsically painted and objects glued on...every nook and cranny covered...and i knew i was in for a treat.

...oh my, was the folk art show an eyeful! I was not all that excited to go as i was expecting to see all these common arts & crafts like woven potholders and fridge magnets made from popsicle sticks but noooooooooo wayyyyyyyy. These artists painted on old doors and chairs, on tar paper, ties, shoes, and clawfoot bathtubs. They had glued on found objects and welded together quirky sculptures.

...first, i laid eyes on "Sam the Dot Man" who was written up in Smithsonian Magazine with his photo too. What a character! He looked like a black uncle sam but his hat and clothes and even his shoes were painted with dots and children, skies, trees and all sorts of folk art images and sayings...every inch was covered. One of his art pieces said "If We All Hold Hands We Can't Fight".

...but my favorite piece was a large collage/painting created by "Missionary Mary Proctor". She had many sayings from her Grandma but this one really grabbed me. She had glued on many broken pieces of plates, that had the old "Blue Willow" design on them, onto the dresses of her grandma and herself as a child. Then wrote this on the side in her own printing:

I remember when i was a child
i broke my grandma old willow blue plates.
I thought she would whip me.
Instead she held my hands
And said i forgive you
Cause just the other day
God forgave me
And He said one must forgive
To be forgiven.

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