Ed Gulley called yesterday and told Maria, his curator, that he was excited about a new “Tin Man” sculpture he was working on out of farm and engine and tractor parts from his farm. He wanted to bring it to the Spring Bedlam Farm Open House and offer it for sale here (June 10-11).
He was as excited as we’ve ever heard or him. We soon understood why.
The Tin Man was Ed’s favorite character from The Wizard Of Oz, he loved his search for heart and courage. We went over Thursday afternoon and we both flipped over this wonderful evocation, a true piece of art, a sculpture that marks Ed’s evolution as an artist.
Ed specializes in gruff farmer talk, but he has the soul of the poet, and has become a treasured friend to both of us.
Ed and his wife Carol are dairy farmers, and most recently, publishers of the Bejosh Farm Journal, a very authentic farmer’s blog now seen and read all over the country and some of the world. Maria, who curates the art show at the Bedlam Farm Open Houses, was dazzled by Ed’s early sculptures and the two of them have been working together on his works for the Open House.
We both urged Ed not to undervalue a piece like this, we could see it easily as an inside-the-house art work, he is still working on the face, and arms. Maria and I both thought he should charge $750 for this piece, a record for him.
The price is up to him, but he is selling more and more of his wind chimes and sculpture pieces on his blog, Ed is coming of age. He is worth it. In Manhattan, that piece would sell for thousands of dollars.
In a sense, Ed is the perfect poster boy for the idea of the art of rural life. He is it.
Ed is coming to our Open House next week with Carol, some wind chimes and lawn sculptures, the Tin Man and Silly Sally, one of his very live newborn calves. Ed is a tough and seasoned dairy farmer, but the artist in him has been pushing out, he and Maria are a wonderful team. Ed will be speaking at the Open House – he is a master story-teller – the Tin Man will be right out on the lawn, along with some of his other works.