Three-Dimensional Folk Art - Folk Art made with Plant Materials
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Image 1Etta Boshell AndersonLostant, Illinois (1855-1947)star of seeds and grasses, circa 1930various grasses and seeds, oak, glass, muslin, wire, florist tape, cardboardGift of Harold W. Boshell 2001.11
Image 2Etta Boshell AndersonLostant, Illinois (1855-1947)corn house, circa 1898corn stalks, kernels, tassels, husksGift of Merle and Barbara Glick 2000.6
Image 3Etta Boshell Andersoncorn house furniture, circa 1898corn stalks, kernels, tassels, husksGift of Merle and Barbara Glick 2000.6
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The artwork of Etta Boshell Anderson is a great example of folk art that was created by an untrained artist, using natural materials found at hand. Anderson’s work is part of a long tradition of creating art out of natural materials, such as art created with shells or stones. She made this assemblage (Image 1) around 1930 out of plant materials from her garden and along the roadside. Thirty-nine different types of plant materials were used to create this star decoration, as identified by the members of the Irene Cull Chapter of the Illinois Nature Plant Society. Anderson created this scale model of an actual house built outside Lostant around 1895, entirely out of corn stalks, husks, kernels, and silk (Image 2). The artist made her first model of the house while she waited for her fiancé to return from service in the Spanish-American War (April-August 1898). A traveling showman purchased her first version, so she made this second model. Although the house does not open up like a dollhouse, Anderson outfitted the rooms with furnishings she made of the same corn products (Image 3). She even placed an upright piano in the parlor and a corner cupboard with dishes in the kitchen. Discussion Questions:Talk about color:Talk about technique:Related Activity Idea:Create a Natural Assemblage |
