Devil on a Root Monster

Miles Burkholder Carpenter, Devil on a Root Monster, 1974, painted wood, fur, leather, synthetic cord, overall: 26 3429 3410 12 in. (67.975.626.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.54A-C

Artwork Details

Title
Devil on a Root Monster
Date
1974
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
overall: 26 3429 3410 12 in. (67.975.626.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
painted wood, fur, leather, synthetic cord
Classifications
Subjects
  • Fantasy — monster
  • Religion — Satan
Object Number
1997.124.54A-C

Artwork Description

The primary colors and awkward carving in Devil on a Root Monster create a folk piece that is both fiendish and funny. Miles Carpenter would gather roots and branches from around his home in Waverly, Virginia, and carve them into fantastic monsters, allowing the natural shape of the wood to inspire his pieces as he transformed knots into faces and thin branches into legs. After carving and sanding the wood, Carpenter painted each sculpture with bright enamel paints from the hardware store.

Works by this artist (7 items)

Miles Burkholder Carpenter, Bull's Head, 1972, carved and painted wood, rubber, and thread, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.234
Bull’s Head
Date1972
carved and painted wood, rubber, and thread
On view
Miles Burkholder Carpenter, Self-Portrait (Indian Brave), 1967, wood, wool, linen, feathers, metal, paint and fur, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1993.40A-C
Self-Portrait (Indian Brave)
Date1967
wood, wool, linen, feathers, metal, paint and fur
Not on view
Miles Burkholder Carpenter, WATER GATE, 1974, carved and painted wood, metal, paper, rubber hose, rubber bands, string, sawdust, and ballpoint pen and ink, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.237
WATER GATE
Date1974
carved and painted wood, metal, paper, rubber hose, rubber bands, string, sawdust, and ballpoint pen and ink
Not on view
Miles Burkholder Carpenter, Root Monster, 1968, carved and painted tree roots, rubber, metal, and string, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.238
Root Monster
Date1968
carved and painted tree roots, rubber, metal, and string
Not on view