I saw this exhibition five years ago at the Guislain Museum, but was too dumb to buy the catalog at the time; they were all pieces from the Prinzhorn Collection, so I was happy I could get a reprint when I was in the museum two weeks ago :^) and... I went to see Hermine's graduation exhibition, which was also very impressive, check it out here. The pictures in this post are all from the catalog, except the one with the embroidered jacket; the bottom pics show shreds of torn bed linen. more pictures soon. goodnight & sweet dreams :)

Embroidered Garment, about 1949, muslin with rickrack, embroidery and crochet Alice Eugenia Ligon, born 1886, died Fulton, MO 1959 Ligon created this dress as a Christmas gift for her children while she was a patient at Fulton State Hospital. She was hospitalized there from 1949 to 1953 for an unspecified condition. The garment is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The Siddis who live in Karnataka, India are of African descent. Siddis women craft dynamic quilts, which they make for their children ...

Old Hindu wearing ancestral pebbles as amulets. The Magic of Jewels and Charms Herbert J. Spinden New York: The American Museum of Natural History Press, 1916.

Mrs. Ruby Ann Kittner and her husband Jake lived in Clinton, Iowa during the 1930s and 1940s. It looks as if Ruby was a button collector and seamstress, and poor Mr. Kittner was her display model. What a sweetie she must have been! This suit of clothes was in our personal collection for several years, and I must say, it was probably one of the most memorable and unique folk art pieces I have ever had the privilege to own. It was THE thing people commented on the most. The suit was too small for me to ever try on, but I will tell you, it was extremely heavy. It is very rare to find a folk art object of such quality with photo documentation like this. The story goes that this was first found in a thrift store in Iowa about 10 years ago. It changed hands twice before I acquired it. Recently, this incredible button suit was exhibited at The John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI. I no longer own this, it is now in another private collection. An AM repost from 12/22/2008.

How beautiful are these? These designs were made by psychiatric patient Marie Lieb with torn sheets on the floor of her hospital room. (found)