Albert 'Kid' Mertz. (Michigan, 1905-1988). I Dare You. Not signed or dated. Paint on found board. Great condition. 13” x 11”.
Est. $100-200. Ship: $35The Smithsonian has a wonderful collection of Mertz' painted Railroad spikes and there was an exhibit of Mertz' work at Intuit in 2013 curated by Susann Craig and Marjorie Free. The following is the write up about the artist by Craig and Free: Albert "Kid" Mertz (1905-1988), a one-time prize fighter and autoworker, lived with his family in a small house in Lilley Township of Newaygo County, Michigan. Upon retirement, Mertz spent his days living off the land and creating signs often festooned with greetings, wacky sayings and comments. He used his off-beat creations to decorate his humble home and tempt passing tourists to visit his remote property. Mertz’s manner and appearance has been affectionately described as resembling that of a leprechaun: engaging, friendly and often mischievous. These traits are also characteristic of the work he hung along the road and stored helter-skelter in his marvelous and highly personal environment. His unique painted constructions covered with backwoods philosophy often took cues from his visitors ("IYAMWHATIYAM") and the children who begged their parents to be taken home (“IWANNAGOHOME”).Today his images and signs remain emblematic reminders of a not too distant past, one geographically out of the mainstream and fast disappearing along with much of rural American life. Co-curated by Intuit Board Members Susann Craig and Marjorie Freed, this exhibit was the most comprehensive to date of his body of work.