Butch Anthony
Down Poorhouse Road, on a piece of land in rural Alabama that his grandfather bought for little more than pocket change, Butch Anthony dwells in a world of wonder. No kidding. He has a “House of Wonder” and a “Museum of Wonder” both filled with wonders from the natural and manmade world. He says “people love to wonder” and it’s clear that he is fascinated by everything around him. He collects things – like the bones and fossils that fill his display cases – and he builds things – like the beautiful and extraordinary house where he lives. So, if you take that sense of wonder, the artifact collections, and the construction skills and mix them all together, you get a sense of Butch Anthony’s art. Most of his artwork involves assemblage of found objects into furniture, sculpture, or wall hangings. Often he uses a construction tech-nique that he calls “hogwire” in which objects are more or less sewn together with metal wire. He has been involved with a wide variety of art and architecture projects associated with universities and nonprofit organizations. His work and life are now the subject of a documentary film by Les Blank. For more about Butch, visit www.museumofwonder.com
Seale, AL
To make faces like this one, Butch first attaches the metal shingle to the wooden shutter, then cuts the face with a torch creating the burned effect. When he made this one he thought the scorched shape above the head looked like a bird, so he enhanced it.
BIRD OVERHEAD
metal shingle & scrap on wooden window shutter
14" x 32"
$225
HOGWIRE
pipe and scrap metal
sewn together with wire
16" x 45"
SOLD
FARRIER TOOL CHAIR
old tools & scrap metal
34" x 13" x 72"
$600
Questions about an item or an artist?
