The World Was Just as Strange 150 years Ago

(Above) IRON BOOTJACK: Here’s a very unusual cast iron bootjack in the form of a devil, whose horns are shaped to aid in the removal of tall boots. Simple and very graphic. The identical bootjack is pictured in Jean Lipman’s Flowering of American Folk Art, pg. 257. Size is 10-1/4 inches. www. onegoodeye

(Above) SYPHILIS GLASSES: Also from onegoodeye, is a rare set of green tinted four-lens spectacles commonly worn by sufferers of syphilis in the early 19th century. The design was patented by J.R. Richardson in 1797 and these ‘double D’ frames were hand made somewhere between 1800 and 1820.

R. Ege Antiques, St Louis

Whatever the season, Rick Ege's storefront window is worth stopping for. 
Here, I'm sorry to say you probably won't find anything your grandmother had... except maybe if your grandmother was Gertrude Stein or wa-aaay ahead of her time.

Rick Ege Antiques is located at 1304 Sidney Street in the historic Soulard District in St. Louis, and is by far my favorite place to look for great stuff. Rick's eye is one you can trust. If Rick has it— it's good, it's worthy, it's rare and it's wonderful. Normally, you would have to go to New York, Chicago or L.A. to find this level of quality. Rick is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Stay tuned here, because in future posts I'll show you more great things.  The number to the shop is: 314.773.8500.

Ralph Lanning Garden, Republic, MO

This painted concrete sign faces the roadway as you enter the Garden.
“ANGEL GABRIEL,” blowing his horn. You can begin to get the idea of the art environment in this photo.
Here’s Ralph, just back from laying Gretchen to rest, showing me a doll that he and Gretchen collaborated on.
One of many stone carvings on the Lanning property.
“LADY GODIVA,” a massive concrete sculpture. It’s at least 20 years old.

Yesterday, November 21, 2008, was the funeral of Ralph Lanning’s wife Gretchen. Gretchen was 91 years old, and Ralph is 92. They have had a great creative partnership for so many years—Ralph with his garden of life-sized concrete figures and smaller stone carvings—Gretchen inside working on her father’s 100-year old loom and crocheting. Together, they made quite the pair. Lanning Garden is situated on just over 6 acres of land on the east side of Republic, Missouri. He loves visitors, and now that he is alone, visitors will be especially welcome. Ralph is one of the few (and rare) self-taught "stone carvers left. It’s a very difficult art form.

Ralph built the house he lives in by hand— himself. As a kid, he sold sassafras door-to-door and later, as a young man, worked for the WPA building bridges and dams. During WWII, Ralph came ashore at Normandy as part of the American and British invasion. He began his garden like so many art environment builders, to share with the world and leave a lasting legacy. He has accomplished that— and more. On the other side of the “Lanning Garden” concrete heart sign you see pictured above, are the words: “IF HEAVEN IS HALF AS BEAUTIFUL AS HERE ON EARTH, THEN I DON’T WANT TO MISS IT.” No need to worry Ralph, you won’t. Learn more here: Raw Vision Magazine

Perfect Match

CHARLES EAMES (1907 - 1978) for HERMAN MILLER: SURFBOARD TABLE: black laminate top and bright zinc legs. 10 x 84 x 29 inches. & EVA ZEISEL (b.1906): Pitcher, mottled beige pottery with white interior, 7 -3/4 inches. 

Selkirk's Modernism Auction, November 2008

Patriotic Young Man With a Flag

DIANE ARBUS: AMERICAN (1923 - 1971) “Patriotic Young Man With a Flag, N.Y.C”., 1967; (Printed later by Neil Selkirk)

© with estate stamps and numbered 50/75; 19-7/8 in. x 16 in. sheet; Gelatin silver; Rago Auctions; Lot #1227 November 21, 2008 Photography Auction, with works from the Dan Berley Estate. See more photos here.

Shepard Fairey “Duality of Humanity” Exhibition

Shepard speaks to the press at the September 2008 opening of his exhibition at White Walls Gallery in San Francisco.
SHEPARD FAIREY: "BIG BROTHER": 44 x 60 in.; stencil collage on paper © 2008 (sold)
SHEPARD FAIREY: "AK 47's": 44 x 60 in., stencil collage on paper © 2008 (sold)
SHEPARD FAIREY: "MONKEY POD": 44 x 30 in., stencil collage on canvas © 2008  (sold)
SHEPARD FAIREY: "MOLOTOV GIRL"; HPM, Silkscreen on album cover © 2008 (sold)

One of my favorite artists is Shepard Fairey, Obey Giant, who is the man behind the very cool Barack Obama red, white and blue "HOPE" image you may have seen as posters during the presidential campaign. Anyhoo, Shepard had an exhibition at White Walls Gallery in San Francisco. WWG is owned and run by Justin Giarla and Andres Guerrero, two cool cats who have almost 30 years of experience in the urban art world. (www.whitewallssf.com) They are leaders in the world of bringing more respectability to street and graffiti art. I started documenting Shepard's "OBEY- Andre the Giant" face stencil art with my camera in New York City at least 14 years ago. At the time I had no idea who was doing it, but it stood out and I liked it. Now, Shepard is a rock star of urban art but has remained true to his roots. He sells his signed, limited edition art on his website for a normal, decent price of around a hundred bucks. They sell out in an hour. Shepard could raise his prices in a heartbeat and people would pay it. (His art shows also sell out.) After a new print is released on his website, the next week, those same prints are being resold on ebay for three times or more their regular price.  Shepard has expressed how much he dislikes this, but there really is not a lot he can do about it.  (He does try NOT to sell to those people anymore, because he feels that the unscrupulous bastards are just in it for the quick buck). 

If you were lucky enough to have purchased a signed limited edition Barack Obama poster a year ago, well, last time I checked on ebay one was bid up to over $7,000, and over 60 people were fighting it out to be the winner! I have never met Shepard personally, but I plan to — someday.  

Recent Round Things

From Selkirk's recent MODERNISM AUCTION, November 15 - 16, 2008 in St. Louis - www.iveyselkirk.com

Top: PABLO PICASSO, SPANISH (1881 - 1973) VISAGE NO. 197, 15/500, Madoura glazed pottery plate, signed and numbered verso, 10 inches. Estimated at $4,000. to $5,000; Lot was passed.

Middle: JOHN M. DONOGHUE, AMERICAN (1953 - 2004) 1993, partial glazed earthenware platter; signed, dated and numbered verso, 24-3/4 inches. Estimated at $400. - $500; Lot was passed.

Bottom: HERBERT KRENCHEL, DANISH KRENIT BOWLS, eight enameled steel bowls, flat black with high gloss monochromatic interiors; 1953/1960's.  Lot sold for $160.