In the 1970’s, more owls lived on wood paneled walls than in trees. The owl is clearly the National Bird in the state of Kitsch as flocks of them thrive in burnt metal, ceramic and the all important Hi Art of Kitsch, String Paintings. This one is especially fancy, incorporating mohair yarn as feathers and a driftwood perch.
String art kits are still available.
Here’s an especially slap happy string art guy.
Slapping advertising on Instamatic cameras was all the rage in the 80’s as advertisers realized their brands could be pushed on just about anything. You got this one by sending Kraft some box tops + minimal coinage. 110 Kodak film cartridge inside still fresh as a loaf of Velveeta, the never-aging cheese.
With the spectacular mini-skirted, go-go booted guitar playing singing stars, who I’m credited with discovering, in the living room of their mobile home, 1986. For a Del Rubios smorgasbord plus “Neutron Dance” and “What Have I Done To Deserve This” as you’ve never heard them before run here.
Long before I co-wrote the musical The Color Purple, in which trees are a powerful symbol, I believed these lumber providers were among nature’s most powerful species. But I never knew they could talk. Geraldine Murray, who claims God delivered her the gift of ventriloquism while she was asleep at age 14, apparently felt differently. Her wooden friend, Ricky’s, voice could make your ears bleed, perhaps causing the tree, well actually shrubs, they’re sitting in front of to creak loud enough for Geraldine to interpret it as speaking.
Geraldine & Ricky cut a few albums on the World Records Of Nashville label in the 1960’s. Though all that survives in my collection are the covers – vinyl cracks a lot easier than wood – they are among the Kentucky Derby champions in the Christian Kitsch LP race.
Geraldine and more wood:
Fits just enough polyester for the weekend. Very rare Disco collectible though I’ve managed to find 3 pieces over the years. Still missing the big 21″ one and still looking…
I cannot tell you how many people ask me if they can keep this vintage cup after I serve them the half a cup of coffee they ask for. Tons of these were made as state souvenirs. Lots of different styles. Not always easy to find but as of this morning there were 8 on Ebay. Run.
Not sure what about “MG” inspired his or her initials to be painted on a roll of toilet paper but I’m elated that the artist known as “Ellen” squeezed the oils out for this masterpiece. Too many obvious jokes here so I’ll leave them up to you. Tho I must say the choice of dark brown for the background color is appropriate.
I especially love Poodle Boy’s Liza Minelli dayGlo green hair, his little paw hands and the way his angora-on-speed sweater reflects on his eyelids. Poodle Girl’s excellent 60’s Russ Meyer meets Charo hair, Angelyne lookalike vibe and dayGlo harlequin top more than make up for the fact that she’s painted so low on the canvas she has no hands, paws or whatever you call that body part on such a species. Not sure what the inspiration was for these weeping canine twinged youth but the fact that these velvet paintings are slightly common didn’t deter me from popping down the $1.25 it took to own the set as a great Kitsch collector should never pass up human subjects with snouts and whiskers.
With my favorite monument in LA, Angelyne, billboard goddess/ Corvette collector. Yes, I really know her. Yes, she ran for Governor. Yes, she bakes a mean brownie. Yes she’s for real.
Hippies claim Jesus as their own with this late 60’s pinback button.
