Rootologist Dr. Thomas Davis

(Above) Original CDV from Dr. Thomas Davis, Scranton, PA. Click image for larger view.

(Above) Detail. Click image for larger view.


HERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH THAT BEGS FOR MORE INFORMATION. I haven’t been able to find anything on this fellow, Dr. Thomas Davis from Scranton, PA who is shown in this photograph with six of his very creepy creations made from roots and what appears to be carved wood. To my knowledge, root creations are descended from African traditions, so it is a bit unusual to see a white man involved in “rootology” and making sculpture from roots. Medicine from roots is one thing—but sculpture? Interesting that he didn’t consider himself an artist, or he might have had that listed. Additionally, Dr. Davis was no spring chicken when this photo was taken in 1919, which means he very possibly began his “practice” in the late 19th century.

If anyone can shed some light on this amazing photograph or anything at all about Dr. Davis or his sculptures, please write in.

Digital image © John Foster, Accidental Mysteries.

Touchless Automatic Wonder

(Above) Cover of the book “Touchless Automatic Wonder” by photographer Lewis Koch.

Click any image for larger view.



Click any image for larger view.



Click any image for larger view.




TEXT AND IMAGE, MIXED WITH WONDER AND SURPRISE are the stars of this new book by photographer Lewis Koch. Described as “found text photographs from the real world” Koch is a photographer whose works are in some awesome collections: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art-Chicago, and numerous major European collections.

Lewis Koch is a master at his craft and a master of his art. I get the sense that his is “an eye” that never rests—something all artists of any substance have. Koch has traveled the world to find these images, from Uttar Pradesh, India, to Hoodoo, Tennessee—and many countries, states and small villages in between. The printed, painted or scrawled word—these bits and pieces of visual language communication that tell us yes or no, follow this, turn here, buy that and so many things—Koch seeks the intersection of the two where wonder and mystery appear. Only through the lens of Lewis Koch will you (the reader) easily find these metaphors. You’ll find them easily because it has taken Koch much of a lifetime to bring them to you. He has captured them in his camera, developed them and presented them for you in this beautifully printed hard cover book published by Borderland Books, Madison, WI.

Koch will be doing a book signing in St. Louis next Thursday, February 4 at 7 pm at the famous Left Bank Books, an independent bookstore in St. Louis founded in 1969.

You can order the book here, or on Amazon here.

And one more thing. A big round of applause to Richard Quinney, editor of Borderland Books. Where would publishing be today without the small, independent press? Huzzah!