Spring for the Arts

Here’s a letter to the Editor I just sent off this morning.  Hope it starts something.

 Editor:  Ventura County Star 

Dear Editor:

    I read in my favorite newspaper that this spring local citizens will be receiving rebates of $300 to $1,200.  It’s supposed to stimulate the economy and protect us from the recession.  If everyone rushes right out and buys a new technology toy the economy to benefit most will be China’s.

         What would happen if the citizens of Ventura (California’s  New Art City) and surrounding cities and towns all decided to support our local arts with their rebates.  Imagine the possibilities.  Use some of the rebate to subscribe to season tickets to a local theater.  Attend some concerts.  Buy a piece of art by a local artist.  Enhance your personal life while building  up  a strong and vital local cultural scene. 

         The season is approaching.  Spring for the arts.

 

John Nichols

Santa Paula

John Nichols is the founding director of the Slow Collecting Movement and blogs on art and collecting at www.sespe.wordpress.com

 

 

The Vernacular Bestiary

The Vernacular Bestiary

As part of my “Collection Within a Collection” I accumulate photographs of animals.  One room of the house has nothing but photographs, paintings, prints and folk art of various animals.  It’s also a library/sitting room/office.  

   I think that got me started thinking about the concept of a bestiary.  That was a book with illustrations of animals popular back in the day.  Many bestiaries are of fantasy animals. Sorel did one of politicians as various animals.

   Given my interest in collecting snapshots it seems natural for me to accumulate snapshots of animals.  Without trying I found I had quite a few.  I talked about the idea with fellow collector Robert Jackson and he was eager to help me out.  He recently sent me this great snapshot of a Porcupine.  On a level of difficulty in collecting I’d say that finding a snapshot of a porcupine rates 9 on a scale of 10.  

Check out Robert’s collection on exhibit and in book form.  National Gallery of Art – The Art of the American Snapshot, 1888 – 1978: From the Collection of Robert E. Jackson. Schedule: National Gallery of Art, Washington, October 7-December 31, 2007; Amon Carter Museum, February 16-April 27, 2008.

   I combed my full collection of snapshots and assembled the beginning of what I am calling “Vernacular Bestiary”.  My plan is to only have one of each type of animal in the bestiary and they all must be snapshots.  It would be fun to eventually publish a book of them.  Since I announced the idea many people have stepped forward to help with obscure animals.  Cats and dogs are easy.  Here is a partial list of what the Vernacular Bestiary contains so far.

1.  Horse

2.  Cow

3.  Cat

4. Chicken

5.  Rabbit

6.  Porcupine

7.  Groundhog

8.  Fish

9.  Ostrich

10.  Horned Toad

11.  Zebra

12.  Snake

13.  Mountain Lion

14.  Monkey

If you can add to my collection please contact me.  I’ll take originals or scans.  I’ll eventually start posting what I have collected on my Flickr site.

How I Found The Vernacular Holy Grail for $5.00

I was reminded about the existence of this small catalog from reading Barbara Levine’s book “Snapshot Chronicles”.  I talked to one Vernacular dealer who actually had one but left it out on his table and it walked away.  I recall he said he had paid $100 for it.  I consider that a deal.  If you can find one.  This is a catalog of the first ever museum exhibit on the snapshot.  Google it for more info.  The exhibit was in 1944 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.  

    When I want a used book I always look at Abebooks.   I went to the Advanced Search option.  I knew the publisher would be Museum of Modern Art and for the Keyword I entered Snapshot.  Up came this catalog with a price of $5.00.  I purchased the only one for sale on ABE but my tip would be to check back every few months to see if another one comes up.  

   There are no quirky or unusual snapshots in the catalog.  The exhibit was mounted with the help of Eastman Kodak so I don’t think they wanted anything too unusual.  All the photos inside look fairly professional even.  Like camera club photos of the time.  It may have been revolutionary at the time but now appears tame and conservative.