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Blockhead (blok' hed'), n. 1. a type of rural folk art object consisting of blocks of wood, stone and other materials, to which paint, hardware, twigs, nails and other items have been added, to form a face or head. 2. a performance art (or freak show) act, in which spikes, nails, drills and other objects are driven into the head through the nose and other orifices (natural or artificial), as in "the human blockhead." 3. a stupid, doltish person, dunce. "Presidentially Speaking: Cronies, Nannies, Fautors & Fops" has been the most successful exhibition in the short life of The Digital Museum of Modern Art -- at least in terms of new visitors to the museum. Between July 4 and November 7, the museum averaged more than 1,250 new visitors per month. It is not hard to understand why.
As someone observed the other day: "America loves its blockheads. It defines the modern American spirit." Intellectuals are a bit too removed from everyday life, it seems -- or worse, they suffer from "French personality dysfunction." As it happens, one of the surprises of the recent election season in America was that the biggest blockheads were some of the highly-paid Democratic strategists right here in Ohio. They were supposed to be helping the cause of John Kerry, not sinking his "swift boat." With what appellation other than blockhead can one explain the self-defeating tactic of bringing movie stars from Hollywood, "creative" writers from San Francisco, and museum glitterati from New York City to educate "those Ohio rubes"? It was in-your-face insulting. I think the simple folk of Ohio were smart enough to assess the issues facing Ohio and America on their own; but the "celebrity star" presence created unanticipated blowback, and brought to the polls every voter who ever suffered through a bad Susan Sarandon or Gina Gershon movie. |
So to commemorate the occasion, it seemed fitting that the next exhibit for DMOMA should be: "Blockheads - the Outsider Art of W. Logan Fry." As he walks through the forest, or cuts wood at the wood pile, Logan finds pieces still bearing the likeness of the spirits that resided within. He brings these spirits into the kitchen, hightlights their features, and adds text and ornamentation. The art speaks for itself, so I won't try to fully characterize it here. Is it folk art? Logan traces part of his lineage back to Amish forebears of Holmes County, and much of his work is derived from the toys he saw own his father and grandfather make, including "Miss Hickory" dolls and mulberry whistles. So, in that sense, it does arise from the direct flowering of a continuous cultural tradition. Is it outsider art? Logan practiced law before becoming a full-time artist, so he certainly hasn't been an outsider to the predominant culture; but he has been clearly outside the art establishment of the culture. Untrained artist? Assuredly, at least with this body of work. He was self- taught every step of the way. They don't teach this stuff in the academy. These are not issues important for our purposes here; so let us observe only this: Logan's art springs from a well that is outside the main culture; and finds no direct precedent in naive art or outsider art either. Whether or not it is good, it is pure. In researching for the exhibition, I found an unanticipated, performance art form: "the human blockhead." Reputedly developed by Melvin Burkhart, a Coney Island side show act, it is now performed around the world, including practitioners in England, Australia and America. A special gallery has been devoted to their art. What I find so enlightening is that these performers enact on their own bodies some of the puncturing and binding found on the blockheds created by our guest artist. Is it "art mimics life" -- or "life mimics art"? Perhaps there is some deeper psychic source for both of these art forms. Because "the human blockhead" can be disturbing to some sensibilities, however, special precautions have been taken to shield that part of the exhibition from the young and the sensitive. Please do not go the "human blockhead" gallery if you are among those who might be easily offended. With that admonition, I hope you enjoy the show: "Blockheads! "
W. Logan Fry, Director
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