Dawson Times

Around Back at Rocky’s Place and Dawson County for the Arts Present “Folk Art from the Bible Belt: The South’s Leading Visionary Artists,” running August 2-29, 2008.  All are invited to an artist’s reception at Bowen Center for the Arts on Sunday August 3, from 3-5 p.m. In addition to refreshments, guests will be entertained by several local church choirs and quartets singing favorite gospel songs. Visitors can can view fabulous folk art, clap their hands, or even join the choirs in singing favorite songs.

The term “folk art” has long been debated by artists, dealers, curators and collectors. This genre has numerous appellations, namely, folk art, outsider art, visionary art, self-taught art, vernacular art, primitive art, naive art and memory art. Regardless of the name, it is an art form that is growing in popularity. Much of this appreciation can be attributed to the adherence of the region’s community and its culture. Although folk artists are located all across the country, and even the world, it is the South’s masters and emerging artists who foster the greatest amount of interest.

Archangel by Billy Roper

According to Robin Blan of Around Back at Rocky's Place, it doesn’t matter whether you are a conservative back row Baptist, a fire and brimstone believer, or someone whose beliefs fall somewhere in the middle, the fact of the matter is that religion is deeply rooted in the Southern culture, in her customs and traditions. The upcoming show, “Folk Art from the Bible Belt: The South’s Leading Visionary Artists,” is where self-taught art, the Bible, and the American South meet to depict the religious word -- not in words and scripture -- but through visual interpretation.

Religion played, and continues to play, a great role in Southern visionary art. A great example is that of Howard Finster and his Folk Art Church and Paradise Gardens. “If there is one artist who personifies the theme of religion, it has got to be Howard Finster. A called preacher, he sought to bring the word of God to the world. He started making art when he saw a face in a drop of paint on his fingertip, taking it as a sign that God was directing him (American Self-Taught Art, Laffal, Florence and Julius, p. 241)."  Regardless of his subject, religion was always the foundation of the painting.

Finster is not alone in solitary splendor in painting religious-based pieces. The South, most notably, is full of such artwork. Not all religious-themed pieces feature baptisms and tent revivals. The devil, as they say, “has his day” and is well represented in the folk art world in all mediums. "One of our favorite pieces of art is by Georgia artist R.A. Miller, also a called preacher. Devils were a mainstay in his work; he used the devil to carry out the word of God," explains   Robin Blan. Other called preachers and religious leaders in their respective communities that will exhibit in this show are Eric “Preacherman” Pace, Tom “Deaconman” Steck, and Robert Roberg, a street preacher.

Foot Washin' by Kim "Sweet Tater" Fleming

Blan reminds guests that as they view the show, to keep in mind that the featured art pieces were created by individuals, most of whom never considered themselves artists. Some are Dawson artists such as, Kim “Sweet Tater” Fleming, Nancy “Miz J” Jackson, Harold Link, Johnny “Blue J’ McBrayer and Stephanie Talley. Says Blan, "The pieces were made from their souls as testimonials to their faith. Surely, there will be a piece or two that strikes a cord in your memory of some familiar religious ritual in your community. Look closely, close your eyes, and you might even hear a spiritual hymn take note."