Matt sits down with folk art photographer, Mike Smith for another look through his archives, this time featuring original video footage of Alabama folk artist Bernice Sims and North Carolina's Clyde Jones. Using paintings and sculptures from Matt's collection alongside Mike's firsthand memories, they revisit the artists and their work.
The episode begins with Bernice Sims, who started painting later in life and became known for her colorful memory paintings of rural Alabama. Mike shares footage from a visit to her home, where Sims talks about growing up without electricity or running water, her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and why she wanted her paintings to preserve the history she had lived through. Matt and Mike look at her depictions of the Selma marches, discuss how her painting style changed over the years, and compare some of her earlier and later work.
Next, they turn to Clyde Jones, the North Carolina artist known for his wooden critters and the art-filled yard surrounding his home in Bynum. Mike shares stories about Jones giving away his artwork, his involvement in the local community, and the time he refused to sell a sculpture to Mikhail Baryshnikov. They watch footage of Jones at home, surrounded by hundreds of his creations, and discuss how his work eventually made its way into museums and private collections.
Chapters
00:00 | Welcome Back, Mike Smith
04:20 | Bernice Sims and Her Selma Bridge Paintings
06:03 | Archival Footage with Bernice Sims in Alabama
10:36 | Bernice Sims on Her Life and Paintings
23:48 | Mike Remembers Visiting Bernice Sims
27:35 | Collecting Folk Art and Spotting Fakes
31:11 | Clyde Jones and His Wooden Critters
36:55 | Inside Clyde Jones' Folk Art Yard
52:56 | Clyde Jones' Letter from Mikhail Baryshnikov
53:48 | Clyde Jones Draws on Mike's Pants
55:01 | Closing Thoughts and More from Mike's Archives
Mike Smith is still active in the folk art world as a collector and dealer through Mike’s at Home Gallery. Follow Mike on Facebook to see more from his collection, available folk art, and pieces he comes across:
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Follow @houseoffolkart for more folk art stories, artist visits, collection deep dives, and new episodes, and find upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.