James Harold Jennings (NC, 1931-1999), Aeon Angel Wall Sculpture

Late 20th century, polychrome painted, carved, and assembled wood, depicting an angel with spread wings labeled "AEON" to base, small old paper label to verso reading "Jennings" and price.

40 7/8 x 26 1/8 x 3 in.

From the Estate of the late Susan C. Frankenberg, Hillsborough, North Carolina

James Harold Jennings was born in 1931 in Pinnacle, North Carolina where his family owned a tobacco farm. He attended school through the fifth grade and worked at the family farm, later taking a job at a drive-in owned by his stepfather. When his nerves "went bust" in 1968, he stayed at home on the farm to care for his mother until she died in 1974.

After her death, Jennings chose to live without electricity, running water, or a telephone in order to create artwork which filled his yard. He carved each whirligig, windmill, sign, and wood figure with a simple knife, assembling and printing them with house paint. He liked creating animals and birds, but some of his favorite subjects revolve around the strength of women and his pieces feature "tufgh girls" beating up men or the devil. He created most of his pieces in the last ten years of his life, and called himself the "sun, moon and star artist." The yard surrounding his home was full of brightly colored works of art and signs.

Jennings spent his later years living alone in a school bus in North Carolina, and his impending fear of the future drove him to suicide on his 69th birthday.

Bio courtesy of American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore

Small surface marks and a few small cracks to wooden letters; otherwise good estate condition.