Doc Lawrence
writes about
KENTUCK
-
A FOLK ART CELEBRATION
The south has always been the country’s most
fertile ground for genuine folk art. And, for 31 consecutive years, going
on 32, the small village of Northport on the banks of Alabama’s majestic
Black Warrior River minutes away from Tuscaloosa and the University of
Alabama campus has hosted the best gathering of the south’s best
original painters, sculptors, woodcarvers and quilters.
Named the KENTUCK FESTIVAL
OF THE ARTS, it is a two-day outdoor festival that attracts over 300 artists
and more than 30,000 visitors. As if the great art wasn’t enough
to capture your interest, the festival features an array of music performers
including the legendary Ralph Stanley, the primary singing force on the
Emmy Award-winning soundtrack from the Coen brother’s smash hit movie,
“Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”
The drive from Atlanta to Northport is easy enough, aided visually by
the incredible autumn beauty of the Chattahoochee Valley. Among the throngs
of enthusiasts are many folk art fans from the Atlanta area, including
the multi-talented Ab the Flagman who not only is an exhibited artist,
but has also performed on stage with his Rock band, the X Miss Americas.
For those who are not familiar with Ab’s works, each constructed
piece incorporates an image of the American flag. They rank as some of
the most creative works I’ve seen anywhere.
Unlike most other art festivals, KENTUCK
is highly selective and each artist is invited only after careful judging
of their works. The selection criteria include originality and distinctiveness,
plus a true relationship to folk heritage. Thus, with the exception of
a few who slip through the cracks, artists driven solely by commercial
motives are excluded. No offense intended, but the works of the "commercial"
artists are all too often copycat productions with little chance of ever
increasing in value. These “folk artists” seem to have a nose
for profit centers. Yet KENTUCK has managed to keep its event pristine
while growing in popularity, which is a solid testament to the importance
of high standards.
I come to KENTUCK to renew old acquaintanceships
with phenomenal artists like Indian Joe Williams, an accomplished wood
carver from Jefferson, Georgia, whose works adorn my mantel. It’s
a chance to shake the enormous hand of the gifted Jimmy Lee Suddeth of
Fayette, Alabama who has been painting images on old wood with mud and
coffee grounds since he was eight years old. My pal Myrtice West of Centre,
Alabama truly began her career when she was sixty, in the aftermath of
an unspeakable family tragedy. Myrtice began with a series of paintings
which took seven years to complete, based on the book of Revelation, .
There is so much talent on the grounds
of KENTUCK, and each artist is a great story. Woodie Long, another Alabama
native, had one of his works grace the cover of The Washington Post Magazine
last year. Clarkesville, Georgia’s Sarah Rakes lives deep in the
woods close to the exuberant natural world of flowers and animals she
paints. Missionary Mary Proctor, a Tallahassee, Florida denizen, has blossomed
into an artist with an international reputation who was honored in Atlanta
recently by Coca-Cola.
Perhaps the most original of all in an
event where originality is commonplace is Danny the Bucketman, who melts
five-gallon buckets with a blowtorch, creating whimsical and at times
haunting characters from his exceptional imagination. Alongside Danny
is the Florida-based artist Ruby Williams whose singular style continues
to capture the attention of galleries and museums throughout the country.
Ruby has been honored in Atlanta and New Jersey for her work with underprivileged
children.
There are other reasons I make the annual
voyage to KENTUCK. It was here I first met the late Reverend Howard Finster.
I stood in line for an hour. It was a precious investment. The thirty-minute
chat with this great man changed my life enormously. The old master saw
beauty everywhere and viewed all things on this planet as entitled to
be on equal footing. He was a man of God with no equal today. I’ve
always viewed TV ministers and politician-preachers with suspicion after
getting to know Rev.Finster. His paintings of Heaven still send chills
down my spine.
KENTUCK sets the standard for excellence
in the folk art realm. It pays homage to native artisans and recognizes
the importance of our need to understand the cultural connection between
what we are today and where we came from. It is a colorful and meaningful
celebration of our diversity with a focus on the underlying spirit that
defines us.
CLICK THE ARROW FOR DIRECTIONS TO NORTHPORT,
ALABAMA: 
