"Eula Anne Hathcock Brown" (My 2nd Great Grandmother)
Handmade Clothing, Polyurethane. 2012
Eula Anne's Story: Eula Anne was a leading midwife in Chilton County Alabama for many years. Coincidentally, she suffered from severe endometriosis (decay of the womb) and thus was plagued with bladder control issues. My grandmother recalls "Maw-maw Brown" frequently stopping her daily chores outside on her farm, lifting her skirts, and relieving herself in the middle of the yard because she couldn't get to the outhouse. This portrait is of my grandmother's memory of Eula Anne.The dress is actually hollow, and stands with no infra-structure or brace.
"William G. Brown and Evaline Rowe Brown" (My 3rd Great Grandparents)
Hand-made and antique clothing, Japanese rice paper, ink, thread, printed daguerreotype, 2012. The photograph in this drawing is a print of an actual daguerreotype of William and Evaline from the mid 1800's.
"Alfred S. Baker, 1st Mayor of Baker County Alabama" ( My 4th Great Grandfather)
Alfred's Story: Alfred inherited a large stretch of land from his father, with which he founded Baker County Alabama (now, Chilton County) in the early 1800's. He promptly named himself Mayor and married Rebecca Anne Mims, the daughter of one of his father's friends.
Alfred was known best for his lecherous behavior, he had a habit for drinking and gambling. It is documented by several accounts in the Chilton County library by local historians and people who knew Alfred that he had a running bet with any man in Baker County. The bet went: "If any man can produce a larger manhood than my own I will personally give him 200 acres and $200 in gold. However, if my manhood proves to be the largest, then I get to choose the challenger's wife or daughter to bed for one night."
Apparently, and this is supported by various birth records, there were a significant number of illegitimate children born in Baker County under Alfred's administration with a middle or last name of Baker. Alfred was never documented to have lost or sold any of his land, and despite his pension for poker, his finances were never troubled. So, it would seem that Alfred won his bet more often than not. I am related to Alfred through his legitimate line of children with his wife, Rebecca.
Installation Shot
Installation Shot 2
"William Henry Rushing" My 2nd Great-grandfather.
Hand-Made clothes, glue, polyurethane.
William's Story: According to my grandmother, William, or "Paw-paw Rushing" was a gentle, sweet man. He spoke with a stutter, but had a beautiful tenor singing voice. One of his favorite pass-times was hunting for deer that "Maw-maw Rushing" would use to cook. One day he went out on a hunt and didn't came back at his usual time. When his family finally found him, he was in a clearing in the woods. It appeared that he had dropped his gun and accidentally shot himself in the torso. He didn't die immediately, because there was a trail of blood leading from the gun to William, who was resting his head peacefully against a fallen tree. He had removed his shoes, socks and glasses, combed his hair with the comb that he always carried in the front pocket of his overalls, and assumed a position of repose to wait for death.
* The photo in the installation is a real photograph of William and his wife Martha Emaline.
** The clothing used in the portrait of William Henry Rushing was actually shot with a shot-gun in the same way his own body was shot, with the direction of my grandmother and the gun expertise of my grandfather.
Thanks again to Colleen for hosting this event in her home, and all the folks at Hot Lullaby for putting this shindig on!!!
