This brilliant “Road Trip” series takes viewers on a hilarious quest for the retro, the wildly imaginative and the fast-disappearing Visionary Art that can still be found — if you look hard enough — along the backroads and byways of America.
Details
LENGTH: 78 x 30 Minutes
FORMAT: Series
CAMERA: HD
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: No
TEXTLESS: No
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
PRODUCTION YEARS: 2000-2012
SUPPLIER: KCPT
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide
Visionary art is one of the least documented areas in the art world. It’s also one of the fastest growing areas of art, and the central thematic concern in Rare Visions & Roadside Revelations. Just in the last 10 years, we’ve seen three major museums open, dedicated to the world of outsider art — in Beaumont, Texas, the Museum of Southeast Texas; in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Jan Michael Kohler Center for the Arts; and in Baltimore, Maryland, the granddaddy of them all, The American Visionary Art Museum. Sadly, at the same time, visionary sites are disappearing at a rapid clip. As is so often the case, the artist passes on and the site falls into disrepair, and before long someone bulldozes it down, and a piece of our collective art consciousness is gone forever. And quite frankly, if it’s been documented at all, it’s often only due to luck and happenstance. Rare Visions & Roadside Revelations has become a serious repository of interviews and photographic documentation of a good number of these site, some of which are already gone.
Rare Visions & Roadside Revelations seeks out this world of the Visionary arts, and in a road show format, brings the artists and the artwork to the television viewers worldwide. Along the way, we mix in the odd and the unusual; the roadside attractions that we like to say “your father would never stop the car for,” making a show not only about art, but one that we believe celebrates human creativity. And though it may be an unusual approach to a show about art, we think it attracts viewers who might never sit down to actually watch “a show about art!”
Episode Synopses
Episode 201: Stops include J.C. Corter’s metal Sculptures and singing dogs near Warrensburg, Mo; the World’s second-largest collection of form implement seats in lona, MO; Larry Bagget’s stonework, including a monument to the Trail of Tears, outside Rolla, MO; and Lambert’s Restaurant, “the home of the “throwed rolls” in Sikeston, MO
Episode 202: Stops include the gravesite of Major Roy, real-life inspiration for Buster Brown, in Hornersville, MO; whirlygig artist John North in Alton, Il The Shrine of the Black Madonna in Eureka, MO; and the “Elvis is Alive” museum off 1-70 at Wright City. ,.
Episode 203: Stops include a visit with pointer Robert E. Smith in Springfield, MO; Ralph Lanning’s Roadside Sculpture Park in Republic, MO; Quigley’s Castle and a giant Ozark shoe tree outside Eureka Springs, AR; Tiny Town and the both houses of Hot Springs, AR; and Michael Brewer, half of Brewer and Shipley, sings “I hate Country” on Highway 76 in Bronson, MO.
Episode 204: Stops include a 300 foot fence sculpted from tools appliances in Collinsville, OK; Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park near Foyil, OK; Big Brutus, the electric mining shovel in West Mineral, KS; the Dinosaur Not-So-National Park near Erie, KS; and lithe Flying Nun House in Pittsburgh, KS
Episode 205: Stops include a visit with carver Mork Negus in Blue Springs, MO; the incredible Hammer Shed in Norborne, MO; the Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City, NE; paper mache creator Reece Crawford in Omaha, NE; and the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, IA.
Episode 206: Stops include the works of chainsaw artist Don Slaughter of McGregor, IA; the Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden in Cochrane, WI; the Grotto in Dickeyville, WI; art-missionary and pointer Anthony Yoder of Joetown, IA; and a visit with Judy Onofrio, found – object sculptor, from Rochester, MN.
Episode 301: Randy, Mike and Don the Camera Guy begin a journey south with a stop at Hubble’s Rubble, a collection of found-object sculptures in Howard, KS. In Oklahoma, they visit the Tom Mix Museum in Dewey, the Big Driller in Tulsa, and a cemetery for circus folks in Hugo. After crossing the Texas State line, they stop at the Pecan Art Museum in Lewisville, TX
Episode 302: The trio stops a the cathedral, Vince Hanneman’s multi-tiered towers of trash in Austin. They also stroll through the Sacred Gardens in New Waverly; and marvel at the Beer Can House in Houston.
Episode 303: Back in the Midwest, Randy, Mike and Don travel to Dearborn, MO, to spend some time with whimsical sculptor Rhett Johnson. They then travel north to Nebraska where they visit Loi Vo and his sculptures made from car bumpers in Lincoln; see the World’s largest Time Capsule in Seward; relax in Ole’s Big Game lounge in Paxton; and playa bit of catch in the shadows of Carhenge, Alliance’s tribute to Stonehenge.
Episode 304: Randy, Mike and Don finally track down the elusive “World’s largest Pecan, “which was in Brunswick, MO, all along. Once in Illinois, they visit the birthplace of the corn dog in Springfield; tour Charles Smith’s yard environment in Aurora; and play miniature golf in a funeral home in Palatine. They begin their exploration of Wisconsin with stops at the Mr. Horeb Mustard, Museum and the Painted Forest in Valtan.
Episode 305: The trio discovers Wisconsin has a lot to offer those in search of rare visions. Randy, Mike and Don begin this leg of their journey with a stop at Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron in Baraboo. They marvel at Wisconsin’s largest Tree before visiting the Grotto Gardens in Rudolph. In Aniwa, they meet a backyard lion tamer; and in Phillips, they find Fred Smith’s Wisconsin Concrete Park.
Episode 306: Mike, Randy and Don the Camera Guy continue to explore the northern plains. They begin with a visit to the Giant Muskie in Hayward, WI; followed by stops at the Wegner Grotto near Cataract. Bottles are on their minds as they see the World’s largest Six Pack and Paul Hefti’s bottle art in LaCrosse. The last part of their trip includes visits to the Jolly Green Giant in Blue lake, MN; and the incredible Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD
Episode 401: For starters, the tour begins with Gino Salerno, a chainsaw artist from Wichita, Kansas, followed by Henry’s Sculpture Hill in Augusta, KS. The road leads to Guthrie, Oklahoma, home of the National lighter Museum and The Muelbacher Bunker in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. The last stop of this journey is the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
Episode 402: The guys take to the Southwest to Mountainair, New Mexico – the home of Rancho Bonito & Clem “Pop” Shaffer’s Hotel. After the fine hospitality, it’s time to savor the many eye-catching pieces on display at the Tinkertown Museum in Sandia Park, New Mexico. Next on the itinerary is the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The van stops again in Chimayo, New Mexico before the showstopper – Bishop’s Castle in Beulah, Colorado.
Episode 403: The adventure begins with some favorite American flavors. In St. Louis, Missouri we dine out with the “Dark Side of the Corn Dog,” and then top it off with the World’s largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois. The last retreats of this episode take place in Kentucky with a visit with painter Helen LaFrance in Boaz, the Wigwam Village Motel in Cave City, and a meeting with J. L. Nippurs, a wood butcher from Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
Episode 404: It all starts in Brownsville, Tennessee – a quest to capture a one-of-a-kind metal sculpture from Billy Tripp. With a taste of the arts in mind, the tour continues to Memphis with a visit to the Center for Southern Folklore, the Crystal Shrine Grotto and a visit with local painter Joe light.
Episode 405: Mike, Randy and Don the Camera Guy take in more rare visions from Viola Hull’s house in Kosciusko, Mississippi; and stop for a visit with quiIter Yvonne Wells. Also includes brief encounters with clay Painter Jimmie lee Suddeth in Fayette, AL, Ave Maria Grotto in Culmann, AL and the World’s largest Cast Iron Sculpture in Birmingham, AL.
Episode 406: The guys hit must-see spots beginning with Butch Anthony’s Alabama Mamma Jamma Car and Woods of Wonder Museum in Pittsview, AL. Other stops featured are: land of Pasaquan, Buena Vista, GA; W.C. Rice’s Cross Garden; Prattville, Al and Reverend Howard Finster, Summerville, GA.
Episode 501: Randy, Mike & Don the Camera Guy begin their fifth season of uncovering Rare Visions and Roadside Revelation’s but not before Reverend Dwight Frizzell gives the NEW VAN some precautionary mojo for its maiden voyage. Once on the road, the guys give their respects to Jim the Wonder dog in Marshall, MO, and then honor those flower children at the country’s only Hippie Memorial in Arcola, IL. From there, it’s on to a house made of Fresca bottles, a totem pole carver, the Jubilee Rock Gardens, and an amazing assortment of odds & ends.
Episode 502: The guys start off in Arenzville, Illinois at the Burgoo Capital of the World, and then head to Grand Junction, Michigan to take a look at the world’s largest wicker chair. They spend the rest of their time in Michigan taking in George Zysk’s Sign Shrine in Grand Hoven, the Traveler’s International Restaurant and Tuba Museum in Okemos, the world’s largest lug nut in East Lansing and Dmitri Szylak’s Disneyland North in Hamtramck. And of course you can’t say you’ve seen Detroit unless you visit Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project and Silvia Barile’s Italian American Cultural Historicol Museum.
Episode 503: This time they begin in Kansas to the Atomic Connon in Fort Riley, then for 0 little change of pace head to Historical Lingerie Show in Junction City. Then it’s on to Belleville to the Mechanical Miniatures to the Boyer Gallery and the famous world’s largest ball of twine in Cowker City. Next it’s to Lucas to take in the Garden of Eden and the Grassroots Art Museum. Still in Kansas, they head to Vera’s Tavern in Hunter and the Hall of Presidential Also Rans in Norton. They end up in Genoa, Colorado to the Genoa Wonder Tower.
Episode 504: The guys start off in the steel mill town of Pueblo, Colorado to visit with painter/poet Tony Perniciarra, then it’s off to Colorado Springs to see humongous yard sculptures by Starr Kempf. Next, they roll into Denver, the mile-high city, to talk with carver Bill Potts and head to Boulder ta meet Jennifer Heath, author of a book on velvet painting. They wind up in Ft. Collins at the Swetsville Zoo & Chrome Rose Gallery.
Episode 505: This episode lands the guys in the Cowboy State, Wyoming. They start off in Cheyenne to take a look to concrete sculptures and bottle buildings as well as Fred Apadocas’ “That’s Incredible” yard. Then it’s on to Laramie to the Ames Pyramid, followed by the Fossil House in Como Bluff. They stop by the birthplace of the Jackalope in Douglas and end up in Sheridan at a welded memorial to Lewis & Clark.
Episode 506: Next it’s big sky country as the guys invade Montana. Things start off in Joliet to see Charles Ringer’s sculptures, and then near Bozeman to the not-to-be-missed site of the peeing ox sculpture. Next its Missoula and more sculptures at “Urethra Park”, followed by Lee Steen’s wood figures in Great Falls. More Montana, and the Buffalo Nickel Buffalo and 01′ Shep statue in Benton. They wrap things up in Montana at Roundup at Tim Anderson’s “Little Mansion~” The big finale is, where else, but Regent, North Dakota and the Enchanted Highway.
Episode 601: More adventures in Arkansas–with guitar maker Ed Stilley near Beaver Lake, sculptor Finton Shaw in Conway, the Old Mill and World’s Second Largest Sundial in North Little Rock and the Coat of Many Duck Heads at the Agricultural Museum in Stuttgart.
Episode 602: Giant chain link sculptures by Robert Wells in Grannis, AR, the legend of the Boggy Creek Monster in Texarkana, Charles Stagg’s amazing home and artwork outside Beaumont, and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas in Beaumont.
Episode 603: We head into the bayou of Louisiana to see Kenny Hill’s Garden of Salvation in Chauvin, then on to the Big Easy (New Orleans) to meet folk artists Dr. Bob and Big AI Taplet. On the Pearl River north of Lake Ponchartrain Mike confronts his fear of alligators, and in Abita Springs, we drop in on the wild and wacky UCM Museum.
Episode 604: The journey starts in Ocean Springs, MS at the Walter Anderson Museum, heads north to McComb for Bette Mott’s Gingerbread House tour, then on to Bovina, to see Earl Simmon’s Folk Art Gallery. In Vicksburg, the boys meet painter Kenneth Humphreys and visit the amazing roadside attraction known as Margaret’s Grocery.
Episode 605: Northbound now, the highlights include the World’s Largest Coffeepot in Stanton, lA, another Big Ball of Twine in Darwin, Minnesota, the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices in Minneapolis, and Louis Wippich’s Molehill environment in Sauk Rapids, MN.
Episode 606: Wisconsin has so much great stuff to see–LaReau’s World of Miniatures in Pardee, Clyde Winia’s dinosaur marsh outside Marshfield, the Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan (even the bathrooms are fun) and the most prolific artist we’ve ever met, dentist Rudy Rotter in Manitowoc.
Episode 701: A backyard roller coaster in Indiana, on abandoned castle in Lexington, Kentucky and woodcarver Marvin Finn in Louisville
Episode 702: Carver Minnie Adkins in Isonville, Kentucky and sculptor/pointer Earl Albert Gray near Huntington, West Virginia
Episode 703: Sam “The Dot Man” McMillan in Winston-Salem and Clyde Jones “Critter Crossing” in Bynum, North Carolina
Episode 704: Q.J. Stephenson’s Trapper’s Lodge in Garysburg, North Carolina and Vollis Simpson’s Incredible Windmill Pork in Lucama.
Episode 705: Richard Howell’s yard art near Richmond, Virginia and the Throne of the Third Millennium in Williamsburg
Episode 706: The American Museum of Visionary Art in Baltimore and the Squished Penny Museum in Washington, D.C.
Episode 801: A trip to Loveland, Ohio exposes an enchanting discovery – The Chateau LaRoche. One man and his “Knights of the Golden Trail” built this Norman Style castle over the course of 30 years. From moot to a backyard in Wapokeneta, Jim Bowsher’s yard contains the Temple of Tolerance, a giant rock sculpture that he erected without the use of a single power tool.
Episode 802: Still in Ohio, the guys stop in Dover at the Warther Carvings Museum. Ernest Worther carved the history of the steam engine, Lincoln’s funeral train, and other incredibly intricate things, and then refused to sell them, even to Henry Ford! Then it’s on to Pennsylvania– where in the Pittsburgh area, they encounter homemade instrument maker Karl Mullen, pointer Kathleen Ferri and in Shartlesville, Roadside Americo, the ultimate “tiny town.”
Episode 803: More amazing artists in Pennsylvania including Mr. Imagination in Bethlehem who survived a shooting and emerged from his near-death experience with a desire to make art from found objects. Another is Isaiah Zagar from Philadelphia, whose quest to “tile the world” con be seen in some incredible mosaics in and on buildings along South Street.
Episode 804: The Gorden State hosts on “illuminated garden” in Montague, part of Ricky Boscorino’s fontasy world in the woods, Luna Porco Out of Jersey and into New York, the guys stumble upon Ted Ludwiaak in Haverstraw, a retired contact lens maker whose yard overlooking the Hudson River is filled with carved heads he started making when he was 67. And Roy Materson of Troy, New York found that unraveled footwear could satisfy a creative urge. His amazing intricate pieces are made from sock three
Episode 805: Randy, Mike and Don survive the World’s Only Floating Bridge in Brookfield, Vermont, which leads them to Gayleen Aiken in Borre. She’s a pointer, musician, puppeteer and all around force of nature. Now in her early 70s, she claims she mode her first art at age 3. Oh and to be a fly on the wall bock in the 1800s when a New Jersey Mon was weaving insects into patriotic and whimsical pieces on display now at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury.
Episode 806: The guys may have lingered a bit too long in the loony Lagoon in Both, Moine where Phillip Day, a retired shipbuilder, has some pretty wacky yard art. And Massachusetts reveals on artist in Pigeon Cove who had the environment’s best interest in mind. . . Ellis Stenman’s Paper House includes desks, radios, clocks, and more, all made from newspapers.
Episode 901: Pun-tastic assemblage maker John Woods in Kansas City, KS; 93-year old chewing gum artist Betty Milliken in Lawrence, KS; Kracht’s Castle in Junction City, KS and the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things In Lucas, KS.
Episode 902: Sign maker M.T. Liggett in Mullinville, KS; carver Glenn Stark in Kingman, KS; Wichita rock gardener Dan Beck; a tiny chapel in Ardmore, OK; scrap metal sculptor David Strickland in Red Oak, TX and the Webb Gallery of Outsider Art in Waxahachie, TX.
Episode 903: A giant Sam Houston in Huntsville, TX; the annual Art Car Parade and Cleveland /lFlower Man/l Turner in Houston.
Episode 904: Chinese extravaganza The Forbidden Gardens in Katy, IX; a big pecan in Seguin, TX; Rev. Seymour Perkins, Ed Clark’s Christmas House and the Toilet Seat Art Museum in San Antonio.
Episode 905: Dinosaur World and Mitchell’s Folly Folk Art Gallery in Eureka Springs, AR; pointer David Kontra in Hartville, MO; barbecue in a cave in Richland, MO; trick shot pool player Charles /lSpitbali/l Darling in Washington, MO; and more from the City Museum in St. Louis.
Episode 906: Elvis jumpsuit maker Kay Murphy in Mexico, MO; scrap metal welder Bob Smithy in Plevna, MO; a great grotto at Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, IA; the World’s Largest Cheeto in Algona, IA and Dick Kopp’s Planet Garbage creations in Fort Dodge, IA.
Episode 1001: Lebanon, TN to East Ellijay, GA featuring the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN; Millenium Manor in Alcoa, TN; Danny “Bucketman” Hoskinson in Benton, TN; Ab the Flagman
Episode 1002: Marietta, GA to Athens, GA featuring Tom Haney and Lorenzo Scott in Atlanta; Bob Hart, Chris Hubbard and Harold Rittenberry, Jr in Athens, GA
Episode 1003: Homer, GA to Bishopville, SC featuring Joni Mabe’s Everything Elvis in Cornelia, GA; William Thomas Thompson in Greenville, SC; Pearl Fryar’s topiary gardens and The Button King in Bishopville, SC.
Episode 1004: Columbia,SC to Kissimmee, FL featuring The Funky Chicken Man in Columbia, SC, the UFO Vistors Center in Bowman, SC; Kurt Zimmerman in Cocoa, FL.
Episode 1005: Boca Raton, FL to Plant City, FL featuring the Coral Castle in Homestead, FL; Purvis Young and Kevin Doyle in Miami; Solomon’s Castle in Ona, FL; Ruby Williams’ vegetable and art stand in Plant City, FL
Episode 1006: Gibsonton, FL to Tallahassee, FL featuring sculptor Taft Richardson in Tampa; metalworker Jerry Coker in Gainesville, FL; Missionary Mary Proctor’s Folk art Yard and Mark Miller’s kinetic creations in Tallahassee, FL.
Episode 1101: Moab, UT to Melba, ID Randy, Mike, and Don the Camera Guy visit the Hole n” the Rock near Moab, the Gilgal Sculpture Garden in Salt Lake City, the Idaho Potato Expo in Blackfoot, ID, a nuclear submarine in Arco, ID, and Cleo’s Ferry Museum on the Snake River near Melba.
Episode 1102: Spokane, WA to Seattle, WA Randy, Mike, and Don the Camera Guy discover a milk bottle-shaped building and a giant Radio Flyer in Spokane, Gehrke Windmill Gardens near the Grand Coulee Dam, and Dick & Jane’s Art Spot in Ellensburg, plus Seattle artists Ree Brown and Tim Fowler, and the Walker Rock Garden.
Episode 1103: Seattle, WA to Long Beach, WA Randy, Mike, and Don the Camera Guy meet Seattle’s Fremont Troll and painter/accordionist Greg Blackstock. Next stop is the Java Jive building in Tacoma and Dan Klennert’s Ex-Nihilo Sculpture Park near Elbe; then a visit to the RichArt Yard in Centralia, as well as the World’s Largest Egg in Winlock, and Marsh’s Free Museum in Long Beach.
Episode 1104: Portland, OR to Bend, OR Randy, Mike, and Don the Camera Guy set out in search of the World’s Smallest Park and Portland’s Velveteria. Then they visit a Bomber Gas Station in Milwaukie and painter Rick Bartow in Newport. Between Redmond and Bend, the guys have even more Oregon adventures at the Funny Farm and Petersen Rock Garden.
Episode 1105: Grants Pass, OR to Arcata, CA Randy, Mike, and Don the Camera Guy get a bird’s eye view from the Out ‘N About Treehouse Resort in Takilma, OR; explore the remnants of Romano Gabriel’s Sculpture Garden in Eureka, CA; have a street corner encounter with artist Duane Flatmo; drop in on the artistic activities at The Studio; and glimpse a few of the crazy pedaled contraptions at the Kinetic Lab in Arcata.
Episode 1106: Ferndale, CA to Sebastapol, CA Randy, Mike, and Don the Camera Guy pay a brief visit to the Kinetic Museum in Ferndale and a drive-thru tree on the Avenue of the Giants, plus visionary painter Reuben Sorensen in Redway, CA. Also Auburn’s sculpting dentist Ken Fox, and Litto’s Hubcap Ranch near Pope Valley, junk metal sculptor Patrick Amiot and filmmaker-turned-carver Ernie Fosselius in Sebastapol.
Episode 1107: The boys bounce into the Bay area, with robot builder Clayton Bailey in Port Costa, CA. In San Francisco, they see Ron Henggeler’s Fulton Street Teepee Tower, a giant rubber band ball, and carver Demi Braceros’ work in Cayuga Park. Plus a visit to Millbrae, CA and futuristic folk artist Stephen Powers.
Episode 1108: Self taught art and architecture at the Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, CA; Art Beal’s rambling construction known as Nittwitt Ridge in Cambria, CA. There’s also a visit to Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, and what remains at Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village in Simi Valley.
Episode 1109: Los Angeles offers up one of folk art’s legendary sites, the Watts Towers, as well as a front yard display called the 10th Wonder of the World. Plus painter Elias Teller in Montebello, the Wigwam Village Motel in Rialto and Elmer Long’s Bottle Garden near Helendale, CA.
Episode 1110: Noah Purifoy’s desert sculptures near Joshua Tree, CA; shipbuilder John Taylor in San Juan Capistrano, Richard Margolin’s Rock & Roll House in Encinitas and Queen Califia’s Magic Circle in Escondido, CA.
Episode 1111: Primitive Kool Hair Salon & Art Gallery in Ocean Beach, CA, the Desert View Tower & Boulder Park near Jacumba, Leonard Knight’s Salvation Mountain outside Niland, the Space Age Lodge in Gila Bend, AZ and fire-breathing sculptures by Richard Wizardry in Scottsdale.
Episode 1112: The Sunnyside Rock Garden and Gus Breithauer’s Salvage Yard in Phoenix, AZ; Jerry Hall’s yard sculptures and the Garden of Gethsemane in Tucson and sculptor/invento Poe Dismuke in Bisbee, AZ.
Details
LENGTH: 66 x 30 Minutes
FORMAT: Series
CAMERA: Betacam
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: No
TEXTLESS: No
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 4:3
PRODUCTION YEAR: 1998-2005
RELEASE YEAR: 2005
SUPPLIER: KCPT
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide
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