Wednesday, July 15, 2009

BURIED TREASURE – Gus Wants to Polka-Polka


About a week ago, Seth Apter of The Altered Page Blog posted a call for a collaboration of hosts of Art Blogs to repost one or two of their ‘ancient’ posts and then link to his Blog (as I did above) where he would post a list of all the Art Blogs that agreed to participate in his Hunt for Buried Treasure. I decided to go with this piece for more than one reason, but I’ll give you those after I tell the musical tale of Gus Smith, Musical Connoisseur Extraordinaire.

On the 28th of February, 1903, only four short years after the introduction of the phonograph, Mr. Gus Smith walked into the Montana Music Company at 119 North Main Street in Butte, Montana, and purchased three records. What’s really nice about this billhead, as such pieces of ephemera are called, is that this would not normally be a piece of ephemera that I would purchase for the simple reason that it’s just too fancy. The only saving grace was that when I first saw it, it looked like it had spent at least seventy years on the floor, and was so dirty and stained I had to spend a couple of hours cleaning it up before I even dared put a pencil to it.

My first thought was to use ”His Master’s Voice”, which came to the United States via Berliner's disc records. Victor was a partner to Britain's Gramophone Company (of "His Master's Voice" fame) and eventually used the same dog-and-gramophone trade mark. Victor was America's main record company and evolved into RCA. When I thought about how common the little pooch really was, I went looking elsewhere for visual ideas. After looking at thirty or forty labels that predated February of 1903, I decided to settle on a more obscure record label that Gus might have purchased. I found this British label with a colorful and almost Art Deco Parrot on it, and after looking at the title(Echo Polka), I knew I’d found THE label for Gus and the title for this piece all in one fell swoop. So… Gus Wants to Polka ------ Polka came to be.

The other reason for reposting this one is that it just very well may be the very first piece of ‘altered’ old paper that I sell. I entered this and Sody-Licious!!! in the Blackfoot Valley Art Auction to be held August 7th and 8th in Lincoln, Montana. Gus is Lot number 135 on Friday evening, and the Sody-Licious Bottle is Lot number 220 on Saturday evening. The proceeds of this auction are split between the artist and the Parker Medical Clinic in this small town. So, I get some good ink, (hopefully) a good sale and some exposure for some art on old paper that most people have never seen.

21 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this post. Went over to see some of the people's blogs you linked. I liked your first one you linked also.

    I think what you are doing is a novel idea and it might take off and surprise you to no end.

    About laptops. I have owned three. Two Gateways and one IBM before they sold out and became Leveno. Of those, this latest laptop is the best. However, I am like you. I own an iMac but it is mostly sitting on a shelf up in my closet at the office. I seldom get it out until my son shows up.

    If it was a laptop then I would use it. I really like the new laptops Apple has out. That's my trouble. I like too many things and most of them cost money.:)

    Thank you very much for visiting my blog and for the comment you left me.
    Pick a Peck of Pixels

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  2. Hi Dave! I'm having a great time finding new blogs, rummaging through Seth's Buried Treasures list. Enjoyed this post very much and now I'm off to see what else you do x

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  3. Dave, nice to hear the Paul Harvey version -:)

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  4. Not only did I get to see a great collage, I got a history lesson and trivia, too. I had no idea "Victor" was so popular.

    I wish you better-than-well at the August Auction. I hope you get the exposure you deserve.

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  5. This is right down my alley! Cool stuff!

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  6. Taking the Buried Treasure tour! Your blog is lovely! I will explore some more. Thanks for sharing with us!
    Artful Blessings,
    Kathryn

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  7. I too am on the buried treasure trail...love the image you've chosen here and all the info. I did a freelance article on the Elvis museum in Hawera, NZ and there is a lot of 'his master's voice" stuff there due to the relationship to Elvis. Anyway, good luck with the sale.

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  8. found you through seths buried dig...having a nice time discovering new blogs!
    you aren't far from my world
    the wild wild west...

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  9. Buried Treasure is a wonderful idea - I enjoyed your post and the story of Gus. Thanks!

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  10. i am so glad that seth has done this and that i've happened upon your blog -- what a great discovery! thank you for this wonderful post! i wish i lived closer to montana.

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  11. Your altered old papers are very appealing. They almost feel like they were originally 'found' that way. It's great how you put so much thought into the right way to 'add' something to them.
    I am intrigued with finding too.
    Fun to find your site, thanks for your visit, and sharing your experience as a fellow fan of Japanese graphics, color and kanji!

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  12. Great post and art - I have attention defecikt but I eread the entire post - ha - I love music and I can sense you do to. It shows in your art.

    Good luck witht he auction...how do you survive winter there?

    Regards....

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  13. Interesting to read of the history of the piece...anxious to go explore more here.

    good luck with the auction.

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  14. Oooh, art and history together, it just doesn't get any better. So glad you participated in Seth's buried treasure. Love hearing about the thoughts and history that goes into a piece and I really liked this. Will be back again, and good luck with the auction.

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  15. Ditto what Kim said. Love the thinking and the history that goes into these pieces. I'll definitely be back to watch what you'll do next! AND thanks for stopping on by my way too. This collaboration of Seth's is just the bees knees ain't it!!

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  16. what a fantastic treasure to share! wishing you great success at the auction. :)

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  17. Enjoyed finding you through buried treasure, thanks.

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  18. I agree with Kim, art and history...heaven. Thank you for sharing...Peace and Love, Lisa

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  19. loving this buried treasure, so interesting.
    Thanks, Jennifer

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  20. What an interesting route to a finished piece of altered paper art. How did you clean the paper? I wish I could be to the auction to see this in real time! Thanks for the post!

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  21. Your work is so unique and after reading this I now know that you put a lot of research in before you create! So happy you decided to be a part of this project!

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