'Treats' Acrylic on wood assemblage ©robinrkent

Monday, September 3, 2012

Outsiders in a folk art world

I'm a folk artist based in New England. Not many in the large folk art world are located here. Southern (or way southern as in Mexican, or Oaxacan) and African folk artists make up most of its citizens, I think. At least on the internet.
'Siesta Box' folk art box ©robin r kent
Folk art flourishes further north as well. Alaskan and Nova Scotian contemporary folk artists sure do rock it.
Maybe we're outsiders in the folk art world? Outsider folk art. We could claim that as in location, but we might be sterotyped as more reserved in style. Yes, this region might be a tad more stoic. Working with leftovers from nature's prim pantry. But we do embody the every man motif. Few embossed or polished edges here.

Siesta Box , left, acrylic on wood assemblage (about 2/3 life size; 2 boxes: hat crown lifts for small box, arms are the lid for the large box)
He left sitting pretty in a spiffy 2-seater convertible many years ago. I could tell he was made to see more of the world. They looked like a nice couple as they headed for points south. He never looked back.

7 comments:

Cindi Myers said...

Oh Wow! He is awesome.
I love his sandals!
It's so nice to know that he was off to see new places.
:)
I think that it's hard to pinpoint styles sometimes.
I just started painting again and I have no idea what my "style" is.
Mixed Media, Folk Art, Naive, Primitive, Outsider or Pop?
Years ago when I listed paintings on Ebay, I would have them under each of those titles, never sure where I belonged.

Sand said...

I liked your last paragraph, sort of poetic and felt like the blues. How are you so sure he never looks back?

Robin Kent said...

...he never sent any postcards from exotic places or southern realms...I think he's happy, though. He looks like he'd do better in that clime.

Sand said...

John Gay was an English poet who lived in the 17th century

We only part to meet again.  ~John Gay

Robin Kent said...

Sand, love it!

Carole Reid said...

Folk art warms the heart, brings smiles to lips, and fits into pretty much any decor!

Robin Kent said...

I like your thinking, Carole!