SWEET & SOUR: Found Art on Capitol Street
A cigar box guitar in the window of the cigar store on Capitol Street. Is it art? Does it matter? And don’t miss the art hanging on the walls inside.
Sweet and Sour wander idly down Capitol Street, keeping an eye peeled for any outbursts of art, or what might be considered art:
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Sour: “Sweet, anything outstanding you saw during our wanderings through Capitol Street today? Personally, my favorite is the cigar “banjo” assemblage hanging in the window of the Cigar Store.”
Sweet: “But is it art?”
Sour: “Ha ha.”
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Sweet: “I love the portraits at Ellen’s Ice Cream by Steve Payne. Cute, kitschy and meant to be. Nice mixture of fun and quality. I love all of Steve Payne’s work both portraits and landscapes. He has a great attention to detail.”
Sour: “Along with the banjo cigar assemblage (whether it’s art or not) I loved some other things in the cigar shop. Got to love a cigar shop that wants to display local art. Keith Allen is one of the great semi-discovered talents in the area. Hyper -obsessive, surreal, almost R. Crumb like creations. Somebody needs to give this guy a big grant so he can further his career. If he works hard enough and gets support his stuff can go global.
Also, I’m impressed with a newcomer. Nick Fortney, a young photographer showing at the cigar store. He has sold several pieces (good for him) and the ones left were outstanding. Fresh, detailed, individualized innovative presentation. Highly impressed old Sourpuss here. Look forward to seeing more from this talented young fellow.”
September 27th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Thanks for the publicity. Yes, the cigar box guitar is art. And has a very good tone to it. it was made by Rick Justice. I would like to see more people making them. I promise to display them for all to see.
Being in the art scene has been an enjoyable experience for me. I would like for other individuals to come forward to show their stuff as well. I even show some of my artwork, which is wood art. I hope to have more real soon.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:33 am
I actually see the cigar banjo every day on the way to work…may have to make one myself.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Forgot to mention, Keith and Nick definitely have talent. I agree it’s just a matter of time for these guys to be noticed.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:16 pm
I find the banjo interesting since I grew up with a mother who collected Appalachian country antiques, and folk art.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I find the bajo very interesting since my mother was a collector of Appalachian antiques, and folk art. I feel that folk art is a dying trend in modern society, and thats sad since its the roots of this area.