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Tennessee

Banks part 3 video

Floyd “Junior” Banks (A.K.A. “Castleman’s”) full scale castle walls– made almost entirely by Floyd working alone from salvaged materials– have been under continuous construction since 1993. Behind the two castle walls, most rooms are open to the sky, and none are habitable.  Complete with a torture chamber and fireplace, Floyd believes that images representing Divine […]

Morrow part 2 paintings

Jimmy Morrow’s folk art paintings in his Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ’s Name reinforce the messages in his charismatic sermons, during which he sometime handles snakes.  Jimmy has written a book on the history of serpent handling (see link below).  His further interests in history include especially the Civil War, and his Great, […]

Morrow part 1

Jimmy Morrow’s folk art paintings in his Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ’s Name reinforce the messages in his charismatic sermons, during which he sometime handles snakes.  Jimmy has written a book on the history of serpent handling (see link below).  His further interests in history include especially the Civil War, and his Great, […]

Turner

Fall 2023 Update:  The barbershop/museum is closed and the empty building/lot is up for rent.   Long located in front of Billy Tripp’s Mindfield on Main Street in Brownsville, Anthony Turner has turned his working barbershop into an eclectic museum for the Mindfield, the Civil Rights Movement, Soul Music, Elvis, and, as the sign on […]

Portraits of ‘Outsider’ and Visionary Artists, 2019-

Often self-taught ‘artists’ don’t think of themselves as, or like to be called ‘artists’.  They may not produce any ‘for sale’ art objects, their work may be too personal, or it may be intended to carry religious messages from God (for which they accept no personal credit).  Many think of themselves as being too unskilled […]

Billy Tripp

  REPLACE THIS: This is just a placeholder paragraph, which was inserted automatically below the image row, to help you continue writing smoothly. Replace this with other content, or delete it if you already have other content below this. lifetime construction project of monumental proportions, Billy Tripp’s Mindfield Cemetery is a personal diary writ large […]

Art Environments – Southeast

Art environments are typically made by by artists working outside the mainstream of contemporary art.  Exposed to the weather and free for public viewing, the environments have little or no connection to the monetized art-object-based realm of galleries and museums.  Often the ‘artists’ don’t think of themselves as, or like to be called ‘artists’, their […]

Banks part 2

Floyd “Junior” Banks (A.K.A. “Castleman’s”) full scale castle walls– made almost entirely by Floyd working alone from salvaged materials– have been under continuous construction since 1993. Behind the two castle walls, most rooms are open to the sky, and none are habitable.  Complete with a torture chamber and fireplace, Floyd believes that images representing Divine […]

Banks part 1

Floyd “Junior” Banks (A.K.A. “Castleman’s”) full scale castle walls – made almost entirely by Floyd working alone from salvaged materials – have been under continuous construction since 1993. Behind the two castle walls, most rooms are open to the sky, and none are habitable. Complete with a torture chamber and fireplace, Floyd believes that images […]

Tripp part 3 Paintings

Billy Tripp took an art class in the 1970’s and made some paintings and sculptures.  The (independently owned) Mindfield Gill was located in an adjacent plaza to the Mindfield, but is now closed.      

Tripp part 2

Written in bridge trusses, i-beams and other re-purposed industrial materials, Billy Tripp’s Mindfield Cemetery, begun in 1989, is a monumental display of his life’s story and experiences. He climbs the 125 foot height un-tethered and expects to continue expanding the Mindfield’s already block-long footprint until he’s physically unable. A fan of travel writer William Least […]

Tripp part 1

Written in bridge trusses, i-beams and other re-purposed industrial materials, Billy Tripp’s Mindfield Cemetery, begun in 1989, is a monumental display of his life’s story and experiences. He climbs the 125 foot height un-tethered and expects to continue expanding the Mindfield’s already block-long footprint until he’s physically unable. A fan of travel writer William Least […]

Portraits of ‘Outsider’ and Visionary Artists, 2013-2018

Often self-taught ‘artists’ don’t think of themselves as, or like to be called ‘artists’.  They may not produce any ‘for sale’ art objects, their work may be too personal, or it may be intended to carry religious messages from God (for which they accept no personal credit).  Many think of themselves as being too unskilled […]

Portraits of ‘Outsider’ and Visionary Artists, 2005-2012

Often self-taught ‘artists’ don’t think of themselves as, or like to be called ‘artists’.  They may not produce any ‘for sale’ art objects, their work may be too personal, or it may be intended to carry religious messages from God (for which they accept no personal credit).  Many think of themselves as being too unskilled […]

Art Environments – Overview

Art environments are typically made by by artists working outside the mainstream of contemporary art.  Exposed to the weather and free for public viewing, the environments have little or no connection to the monetized art-object-based realm of galleries and museums.  Often the ‘artists’ don’t think of themselves as, or like to be called ‘artists’, their […]

Art Cars and Bikes

Art vehicles can be essentially a detachable extension of an art environment (Leonard Knight, Clarke Bedford, Jeff Elersic), an expression of personal biography (Billy Tripp, Melanie Harris), a cohesively themed idea (Harrod Blank), or a decorative extravaganza (Greg Phelps, Guy DeShazo).

Religious Building Conversions

Buildings such as theaters, banks, fire stations, and storefronts repurposed to churches and mosques. Synagogues converted into Christian churches.

Architecture

American vernacular architecture and hand-painted decorations.