Name/Title
Free as a BirdEntry/Object ID
2019.1.12Description
Missionary Mary, as she calls herself, began creating art in the mid 1990's after a very painful time in her life. She lost her grandmother, aunt, and uncle to a house fire sending her into a spiral of grief, fasting, and praying. On the 30th day of her fasting she heard God speak to her, telling her to "Paint the way…the door is the way." After that she painted the portraits of her three family members whom she had lost onto three old doors, and that was the beginning of her life as an artist.
Mary likes to say "Don't ignore signs", spreading the Good Word through her work. Many of her pieces, like the one featured here, often display words or phrases. In an interview with FSU News, Mary said, "When I was growing up I wrote on everything. I loved writing. I wrote on the floor. The wall. The carpet. My grandmother say 'Girl you love writing,' and I told her 'Yes ma'am I do!' So now whenever I write on my work I'm writing her own words through me".
This particular piece, titled Free as a Bird was one of her early works created in 1998. It is made up of an old window frame, painted black with cut metal chickens and metal cooking utensils hanging from the top. Mary uses odds and ends she finds in her junkyard. Her work is inspired both by biblical scripture and memories from her grandmother and childhood.Artwork Details
Medium
Metal, paint, Wooden window frameCollection
Southern Vernacular Art CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2019.1Source or Donor
Hill, Lou & CaynneAcquisition Method
DonationMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Proctor, Mary L.Role
ArtistDate made
1998Dimensions
Height
32 inWidth
29 inDepth
2 inInterpretative Labels
Label
Mary Proctor (b.1960)
Artist Mary Proctor, also known as Missionary Mary, uses found objects from her junkyard, which she calls the American Folk Art Museum, to create three-dimensional assembled works from found objects like buttons, mirrors, jewelry, and other trinkets. Her work is inspired by biblical scripture and memories of her grandmother and her childhood. Most of her works include written messages of spiritual passages or life lessons.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
January 22, 2019