Untitled (Caparena figure)

Clarence Woolsey, Grace Woolsey, Untitled (Caparena figure), ca. 1961 - 1972, bottle caps, wood, and wire, 34 × 19 × 12 12 in. (86.4 × 48.3 × 31.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2015.58.27

Artwork Details

Title
Untitled (Caparena figure)
Date
ca. 1961 - 1972
Dimensions
34 × 19 × 12 12 in. (86.4 × 48.3 × 31.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Orren and Marilyn Bradley and Kohler Foundation, Inc.
Mediums Description
bottle caps, wood, and wire
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — bear
Object Number
2015.58.27

Artwork Description

Clarence and Grace Woolsey started their yard environment of bottlecap sculptures in the winter of 1961. Over the next decade, they made figures that looked like bears, rabbits, characters from nursery rhymes and children's tales, curious aliens, and structures and objects like churches, windmills, and bicycles. In the mid-1970s, they began charging curiosity-seekers to view "the World's Largest Pioneer Caparena." The site was dismantled in 1972.

Works by this artist (1 item)

Nancy Wolf, Expulsion, 1980, pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the collection of Eric Green and Jock Truman, 1996.20
Expulsion
Date1980
pencil on paper
Not on view

Exhibitions

Media - 1970.353.1-.116 - SAAM-1970.353.1-.116_9 - 127238
Galleries for Folk and Self-Taught Art
October 21, 2016January 31, 2030
SAAM’s collection of folk and self-taught art represents the powerful vision of America’s untrained and vernacular artists.

More Artworks from the Collection

Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Nathan Oliveira, Site with Blue and White, 1978, monotype, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Moses Lasky, 2004.32.14
Site with Blue and White
Date1978
monotype
Not on view