James Harold Jennings (NC, 1931-1999), Folk Art Mechanical Sculpture

late 20th century, mixed media assembled construction primarily made of polychrome painted and cut wood, featuring (2) moving wheels: the top wheel with a wood knob to turn it clockwise as the bottom wheel affixed with a stone moves back and forth helping the figures at the base to strum their instruments, signed twice to verso. This lot also includes an exhibition pamphlet from the Art Museum of Western Virginia's "The Art World of James Harold Jennings" from 1994-1995 that is signed by the artist.

40 x 13 1/2 x 9 in.

Private Collection of a Lady, Asheville, 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

In working condition; small chip to wheel at top; a few areas of staining to base.