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Collectors, dealers and fans of ‘outsider art’ flock to Folk Fest each year. (Photos courtesy Slotin Folk Art)
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HOME > SOVO SCENE > FEATURE
By: DYANA BAGBY
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Raised a Southern Baptist in rural Georgia, Durwood Pepper grew up listening to how being gay is evil, as interpreted to him through Bible scriptures.
Now an Episcopalian living with his partner, Jim Taflinger, in Gainesville, Ga., Pepper is a meat manager at a grocery store by day and a folk artist in his free time. He doesn’t shy away from sometimes incorporating the same religious themes that once denounced who he is into his art.
His work includes angels made from metal cans and crosses made from tin.
“I do a lot of religious pieces — from pieces about Lent to angels and devils,” Pepper says. “It’s the way you’re brought up, but I know Jesus doesn’t hate me.”
Pepper, 46, says he is one of only a few openly gay folk artists. He plans to exhibit his religious, political, and just plain fun art pieces at the annual Folk Fest. The event takes place Aug. 15-17 at the North Atlanta Trade Center in Gwinnett County.
“I like [folk] art because it’s more personal,” he says. “It speaks to you.”
Pepper also enjoys making strong political statements through his work, including a 6-foot version of President George W. Bush standing in the waters of Hurricane Katrina. The faces of dead U.S. soldiers detail the president’s face.
“They wouldn’t let me show the Bush one here [at a Gainesville art show] — they’re more Republican over here,” he says.
PEPPER WAS A LONGTIME FRIEND of folk master R.A. Miller, an ordained minister who was known for, among other pieces, his “Blow Oskar” tin cutouts shaped like Uncle Sam and painted red, white and blue. Pepper learned from Miller how to cut tin — especially chicken house tin — and other found objects, hand paint the one-time junk and create one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
“We would help take care of him, help him out,” Pepper says of Miller, who died in 2006 at the age of 93.
Taflinger, Pepper’s partner of five years, remembers taking Miller to many Folk Fests, even pushing him in a wheelchair to several fests before he died.
“I’ve been able to meet artists, potters — it’s a different culture,” says Taflinger, who lived in Atlanta for more than 20 years before moving to Gainesville five years ago. “I enjoy the art. I think people who are drawn to folk art are more liberal, more fun, more out-of-the box.”
Steve Slotin, who started Folk Fest with his wife, Amy, 15 years ago, says folk art definitely attracts people who think “outside the box.” To him, that means many folk artists, collectors and dealers are gay. And Jewish.
“It takes a certain kind of collector to collect folk art,” says Slotin, who is Jewish. “They have to be forward thinking, and I find many of them are from the gay or Jewish community. Fifteen years ago, this wasn’t considered real art. But these people [gays, Jews] are the ones who started collecting the art, giving the artists shows.
“I don’t know what it is about those two groups, but they like to leave the mainstream thinking. The artists are so out there and I think people relate to that,” he says.
WHEN SLOTIN STARTED FOLK FEST, he booked the event at the Cobb Galleria. That was also the same year the Cobb County Commission voted to pass a resolution stating homosexuality did not fit in with “community standards.”
Slotin, unhappy with the 1993 resolution, knew he had to do something. He talked to his brother Steve, a former state senator for intown Atlanta neighborhoods, and asked him what he should do. His brother told Slotin to take a stand. Slotin moved the event out of Cobb County.
“Not only were we able to make a small protest against a very unjust and hateful resolution, but many of our best customers and friends we have made along this 15-year journey are gay,” he says. “The support we got for doing that was immense.”
Some 6,000 people attended that first event. This year, more than 12,000 people are expected to look over the art of more than 100 exhibitors.
For Robin Blan, 48, and Tracey Burnette, 51, partners and owners of Around Back at Rocky’s Place in Dawsonville, Ga., folk art is a love they both share — from the paintings of masters such as Howard Finster to “whirligigs” made by local artists.
The duo, both school teachers, has attended Folk Fest for about seven years. They say that they have “many” gay customers, especially gay men.
“We have a strong, regular clientele who like to collect the Meaders ...
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