January 11, 2008
Hillbilly Santa
Throughout vast swaths of the South, no veranda is complete without an old codger kicking back with some hooch and making passersby uncomfortable. Riverdale, where this front porch denizen passes the days, seems to be just close enough to the Mason-Dixon line to qualify. A local resident insisted that this handrafted handyman, equal parts kitschy and creepy, moves with the weeks and the seasons, assuming different positions every once in a while to ease his creaky joints.
It's unclear whether he used the Santa hat as cover that time he was caught climbing down a neighbour's chimney. Equally unclear is who (or what) is supposed to be sitting in the little chair beside him.
Photo by Val Dodge.
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Well, he is not quite south of the Mason Dixon line but he was created south of the border in Downeast Maine by Peter Beerits using found objects and the local attire. See him at Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies when you are on Deer Isle Maine. He can also be seen at
http://www.nervousnellies.com/sculpture.html
Thanks for checking out our porch.
Cheers,
John
I figured that he hailed from somewhere around the Appalachians, I just picked the wrong end.
I wish more people put interesting things on their verandas; they really liven up a neighbourhood stroll.
As you can see, we here in Maine don't hide our object d'art away in the attic or in climate controlled storage units. No sir, we put them right out on the front porch and share them with the rest of you. Now that our dear friends have moved to Toronto, you folks are the beneficiaries of their dedication to public art. And no, this piece of sculpture doesn't move around, but his eyes follow you everywhere you go and he can hear what you are saying....
Long live The Silent Clown!