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USA
East
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Baltimore, MD
The Baltimore Glassman - Paul Darmafall
1925-2003
Mixed media
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Information:
Like his work, Paul Darmafall’s life was assembled in distinct fragments. As a young man he worked the coal mines in his native West Virginia, served in the Navy, participating in the Normandy and Iwo Jima invasions, and returned to work as a grinder at Bethlehem Steel and then a bricklayer. Though many of his generation had similar stories, it was his history of mental illness going back to his early adulthood and his desire to create unique pieces of art that set him apart from others.
After retiring in 1976, Darmafall began making his assemblages on a sidewalk along a busy stretch of highway in East Baltimore. He would ride his bike along the city streets, collecting bottles and glass. He would take an old board and first trace a drawing—often times cutout from a magazine—then paint over it, add glitter and the broken glass. Somewhat cryptic printed messages accompanied his work. "i stand to be corrected," "free air," and "fresh air cure" and other writings often referred to his disdain of air conditioning, and fear of electricity.
"It’s a free country," he explained. In the beginning, he would leave his creations along the road, hanging them in trees. In the late nineties, more people in the art world took notice of his work. In 1999, Darmafall had a solo exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum, and now can be found at auction and in galleries.
Paul passed away on October 26, 2003 at the age of 78.
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Bibliography:
"Detour Art—Outsider, Folk Art, and Visionary Folk Art Environments Coast to Coast, Art and Photographs from the Collection of Kelly Ludwig" by Kelly Ludwig, Kansas City Star Books, 2007.
On DVD - Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations, "Eastern Weaseling", KCPT, Kansas City Public Television, 2002.
"20th Century American Folk, Self Taught, and Outsider Art" by Betty-Carol Sellen, Cynthia J. Johnson, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York, 1993.
"Self Taught, Outsider, and Folk Art—A guide to American Artists, Locations and Resources" by Betty-Carol Sellen with Cynthia J. Johnson, McFarland & Company, 2000.
"Contemporary American Folk Art - A Collector's Guide" Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Abbeville Press, 1996.
"American Self-Taught Art: An Illustrated Analysis of 20th Century Artists and Trends with 1,319 Capsule Biographies" by Florence Laffal and Julius Laffal, 2003. |
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