By Drew

…Butch Anthony that is.  I’ve been swooning over Butch Anthony, his work and life for some time now.  He is a self described “artist, picker, and builder of things” from Seale, Alabama.  My interest was piqued while watching reality TV of all things.  The History Channel’s American Pickers visited Butch’s Museum of Wonder in 2010, where I spied on the ground a grouping of old photographs that had been drawn over with skeletal figures.  Butch had mentioned in the episode that he was an artist and I wondered if this was some of his work.  I turned to Google and found that Mr. Anthony, despite his casual nature and backwoods property heaping with junk (and I say that affectionately) was far from undiscovered.  In fact I think in some circles he’s a bit of a celebrity.

The photographs indeed were of his creation and by far my favorite of his work.  He calls the process and product “intertwangleism”.  His partner and mother of his daughter is Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin fame.  I was already a huge fan of hers and was so thrilled to make the connection.  So much has been written about Butch, his Museum of Wonders, his Possum Trot Auctions, and his annual Doo Nanny festival.  Check out the New York Times write up from April of 2010: “Art Shapes a Rural Alabama Compound” .  I can’t wait to get to Seale someday and take it all in for myself.  It’ll happen…

I’m not going to rehash what’s already been said, but it’s worth mentioning that he doesn’t just make art, he lives it.  Even his home, as reported by the Times, is of his making.  He has done what I have threatened to do for years and create a daily uniform for himself.  Imagine how much thought and time we could devote to other things if we didn’t have to worry about what we were going to wear on any given day.  His devotion to his local area, simple truthful living, making use of what we already have, and all around positive attitude towards life are all things I aspire to.  Have a look at a few  You Tube videos featuring Butch.

I’m mesmerized by his ease, his Woody Guthrie lilt, and the surroundings he’s created for himself and anyone who happens by his “Grandaddy’s old farm”.  I’m not so naive to think that Butch’s life is without issue, we all got ‘em, but I wouldn’t mind being a little more butch.

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