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Tesuque, NM Felipe Benito Archuleta 1910-1991 Carvings

Information: Felipe B. Archuleta, a self-taught artist, spent most of his life in Tesuque, New Mexico. As a young man he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. Later he worked as a carpenter and as an odd-jobs laborer, learning skills that he used when he began whittling small animal figures at the age of 57. Marketed locally, Archuleta's carvings of native New Mexico animals proved to be extremely popular. His whittling soon evolved into a cottage industry. Encouraged by gallery owners and collectors to make larger carvings, Archuleta expanded his repertoire to include life-size sculptures of animals such as giraffes and monkeys. Because carving such large-scale animals presented problems for Archuleta when he began to suffer from arthritis, he returned to small-scale carvings toward the end of his life. Regardless of their size, Archuleta's sculptures reflect his humor, positive attitude, and appreciation of animals. Compelled to find just the right piece of wood for each animal, Archuleta carved his small animals from single pieces. By assembling large animals from multiple pieces, Archuleta used an additive process to create sculpture. After shaping the wood with carpenter's tools into various body parts, Archuleta would join them with nails and glue. These joins were then smoothed with a mixture of sawdust and glue, helping to build a final surface upon which he could create textures by incising marks with hand tools and then painting. Getty Archives

	Reference / Links:
	Orange Hill Gallery New York Times Smithsonian American Art Museum Slotin Folk Art
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Bibliography: "Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century American Folk Art and Artists" by Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Abbeville Press, New York, 1990. "20th Century American Folk, Self Taught, and Outsider Art" by Betty-Carol Sellen, Cynthia J. Johnson, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York, 1993. "Contemporary American Folk Art - A Collector's Guide" Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Abbeville Press, 1996. "Contemporary Folk Art: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum" by Lynda Hartigan (exhibition text, Smithsonian American Art Museum), 1999. "Self Taught, Outsider, and Folk Art—A guide to American Artists, Locations and Resources" by Betty-Carol Sellen with Cynthia J. Johnson, 2000. "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. Slotin Folk Art Auction Catalog, Masterpiece Sale, November 4, 2006. "Contemporary Folk Art: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum" by Tom Patterson, Watson-Guptill Publications/New York, 2001.

Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Roadrunner Chasing a Butterfly1979. Carved and painted wood. 42" w x 13.5" h. Great piece in excellent condition. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Woodpecker c. 1985. Carved and painted wood. 29" h, base is 12" x 14" Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Wild Boar Large life size sow, constructed of painted wood and textured, having wood teeth and rope tail. Inlaid glass marble eyes. Signed 1/13/1981 Pig by FBA. Measures:20.5" H x 11" W x 41" L. Condition: chip on ear and hoof. Surface craze/hairlines maybe how the artist finished it. Weighs close to 50 lbs. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Anaconda c. 1986. Carved and painted wood. 72 long. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Ram Wool, wood and paint. 35" long x 15" w x 24" h. Provenance: Chuck and Jan Rosenak. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Anteater 5/6/1977. Carved and painted wood. 61" long x 18.5" h x 9.5" (very large!) Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Porcupine 11/3/1976. Carved and painted wood, signed. 35" long x 18" h x 15" w. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Framed Drawing and Portfolio One framed drawing and an entire portfolio of sketches and notes, lists, projects and personal reminders, preliminary drawings for larger projects. All on paper. Giraffe Drawing. Pen on cardboard. 16.5" x 16.5" h including frame. Provenance: Chuck and Jan Rosenak. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

Ostrich Carved wood and paint. 57" L x 17" w x 68" h. Credit: Slotin Folk Art

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