John William "Uncle Jack" Dey (American/Virginia, 1912-1978), "Amazon's Accupuncture Bear Style", enamel on panel, signed lower right, titled lower center, "Jay Johnson America's Folk Heritage Gallery, New York, NY" stamp en verso, 20 1/2 in. x 25 in., framed Provenance: Doug Gitter, New Orleans; Collection of Genie and Steve Goldring, New Orleans, 1994. Condition: Light surface dirt; craquelure throughout; scattered losses particularly along left edge and left corners; scattered scratches along edges likely from contact with frame; scattered accretions. Ext. Frame: 21 in. x 25 in. x 1 1/4 in. Note: John William “Uncle Jack” Dey was born in Phoebus, Virginia in 1912 and spent his childhood in the state before traveling to Maine in 1932 to work as a trapper and logger for several years. He returned to Richmond, where he eventually joined the police force around 1942. Dey served on the force for almost thirteen years and earned the affectionate nickname “Uncle Jack” from the neighborhood children, whose toys and bicycles he often repaired. He started to paint after retiring from the police in 1955, using model airplane paint to create images inspired by his own life adventures, religion and imagined exotic landscapes. Dey’s ability to convey a story, his strong sense of color and composition and flair for the dramatic are clearly displayed in his body of work. He did not hesitate to punish people or animals he did not like in his creations by portraying them as subjects of his own unique acupuncture - pitchfork style. He imbued some of his compositions with a sense of foreboding by including hovering black crows, often counter-balanced by a row of equally sweet bunnies. The work offered here has all of these traits and more, as three generously proportioned nude Amazons stab bewildered bleeding bears in a forest, under the watchful gaze of crows and bunnies.

If Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot, the absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.