Hutman's World Artcars and Peasant Life

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

We Wish You All
A
Very Merry Christmas !
WASSAIL !
And a Very Happy New Year 1 ! !
Conrad, Mary and Margaret Bladey

Front Illustration based upon: Phiz (Hablot K. Browne). March 1850, "My
Aunt astonishes me" In: Dickens, Charles, David Copperfield .

'What do you think of that for a kite?' he said. I answered that it was a...beautiful one. I should think it must have been as much as seven feet high. 'I made it. We'll go and fly it, you and I,' said Mr. Dick. 'Do you see this?' He showed me that it was covered with manuscript, very closely and laboriously written; but so plainly, that as I looked along the lines, I thought I saw some allusion to King Charles the First's head again, in one or two places. 'There's plenty of string,' said Mr. Dick, 'and when it flies high, it takes the facts a long way. That's my manner of diffusing 'em.I don't know where they may come down. It's according to circumstances, and the wind, and so forth; but I take my chance of that.' His face was so very mild and pleasant, and had something so reverend in it, though it was hale and hearty, that I was not sure but that he was having a good-humoured jest with me. So I laughed, and he laughed, and we parted the best friends possible. 'Well, child,' said my aunt, when I went downstairs. 'And what of Mr. Dick, this morning?' 'Is he - is Mr. Dick- I ask because I don't know, aunt - is he at all out of his mind, then?' Istammered; for I felt I was on dangerous ground. 'Not a morsel,' said my aunt. -Dickens, Charles, David Copperfield,Chapter 14 1850.

Please! Come to Our Jolly WASSAIL !!!!!

Saturday January 15, 2011- 5PM 402 Nancy Ave. Linthicum, Md. 21090

We Invite You to our annual WASSAIL celebration!
The most traditional and well researched WASSAIL Anywhere!
-Wassail the Trees
-Wassail Door to Door
-Wassail in the Hall
-Mummers Plays
-Mari Lwyd Welsh Wassail Ritual
-The Christmas Bull
-Wassailing the Oxen
-Wassail Fire
-Several WASSAIL recipes
-Smoking Bishop
-Hand warmer meat pies
-All the WASSAIL songs in the known world…hundreds of them and fine music!
Contact Information-
To RSVP (Essential)- cbladey@verizon.net 410-789-0930 Check our Blog for further updates
http://baltimorewassail.blogspot.com/
What is WASSAIL Easy Go Here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/wassail.html

Green Man Tandem Bike

2010-04-23T12:09:00.002-04:00

Almost done!

Green Man Bike phase I

2010-04-20T08:37:00.002-04:00

Received a donation of a two seater well built schwinn bike in great condition. It will be a green man bike covered in vines and green men in the basket! Maybe a small tree on the back fender. Now several shades of green waiting on one other. Fixing tire. Finding greens.....

Tree artwork

2010-04-01T19:32:00.003-04:00

bottle tree and turbine

Bodecia ofLinthicum

Progress on the adam and eve truck

2010-03-20T16:41:00.003-04:00

Painting almost done need more green then large apples for head and hands with small bowlers on top. Should be done tomorrow. These bolt in but arent bolted in this photo. This way they can be removed when truck is needed for hauling however they will be driven most days in this configuration

Mannequin team for the truck

2010-03-20T10:01:00.001-04:00

My new crew. Very quiet, reliable, dependable. soon to be mounted on the rails of the truck bed where they shall offer apples to the adoring public.

Now with shoulder honkers

2010-02-21T21:13:00.001-05:00

Latest Project- Horn Coat

2010-02-21T20:46:00.003-05:00

The product of way too much time researching and editing in the snowbound house. Soon photos of painted work with shoulder honkers-shoulder honkers at odd angles to varry sound quality

The product of way too much time researching and editing in the snowbound house. Soon photos of painted work with shoulder honkers-shoulder honkers at odd angles to varry sound quality

Sara Palin at the Tea Party

2010-02-06T18:00:00.003-05:00

Sarah At the Tea Party-Dril for Tea! Just made this a few seconds ago hot off the press!

Polar Bear Plunge 2010

2010-02-01T18:30:00.002-05:00

Our crew Thomas Atkinson Dancing

Thomas and the truck just before leaving

We stayed till 1135 and even then it was way dangerous on the roads

Billy, Mary, Margaret, Christmas and the Box 2009

2009-12-25T15:35:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas Our Christmas Card for one and all!

2009-12-11T09:24:00.006-05:00

A Very Merry Wassail Christmas to One and All!

We wish you a
Very Merry Christmas And Happy New Year !!!
Mary, Margaret, and Conrad Bladey

fErret’s First Christmas
Cocco and Puff

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We will celebrate our

traditional wassail on

Saturday January 16, 5pm

onward-Wassail, hand

warmer meat pies, smoking

bishop, authentic wassail

cakes, bonfire, mummers

play and music-

rain or shine all welcome!

r.s.v.p. cbladey@verizon.net

Who knows maybe we will

be able to celebrate the

publication of the grand

Book of wassail.

For more about wassail customs go here:

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/wassail.html

St. Martin's Umzug- Zion Church Baltimore

2009-11-16T15:25:00.005-05:00

A great procession and celebration.
My first recent public performance on alto horn!

Piano Bonfire 10/31/09

2009-11-01T07:30:00.003-05:00

Emergency Rescue of Tuba from truck cap

2009-08-20T07:20:00.001-04:00

Blacksmith at the Forge

2009-08-20T07:19:00.002-04:00

Change of March 14 Event- Not Parade Commemorative Gathering

2009-02-11T10:35:00.002-05:00

Please change your information- Sorry for the inconvenience. Not enough interest for formal parade so we will just commemorate. There is not enough parking in the park and it is not on any map so we will gather in the Linthicum Heights 21090 parking lot for a few words then distribute maps to the park and commemorate there.
Commemorative Gathering
Gather together to remember two Maryland Patriots-- John Charles Linthicum Charles Linthicum To be Celebrated with Commemorative Gathering.
We gather at the center of Linthicum Heights in the Shopping Center for a few words and to find parking. We will distribute maps to the park which is only a few blocks away. (but as it is a new park and has little parking it is not on any maps as yet.) So first a few words in the center of town, maps, find parking then a second commemoration at the park at noon. Wreath laying maybe a speech. Afterwards we will find some place for a social gathering with refreshments.

March 14 2009

Thus far...
Commemoration will take place rain or shine.

We are looking for a sponsor bar to provide special deals for commemoration participants after the parade maybe 1930s beer prices! (remember no beer in commemoration) e.mail us cbladey@verizon.net

Girls are encouraged to wear costume jewelry and roses in honor of Mrs. Linthicum

1930s dress is encouraged

1930s vehicles are encouraged

Artcars will take part

Participants can dress up with I'm Linthicum tee shirts from our on-line store

Remember the Linthicums with great gift items-tote bag, mugs, pins etc... Build Community spirit! Remember our history!
Visit the store here-
http://www.cafepress.com/Ilinthicum

March 14, 1932

On March 14, 1932, the House voted on the question of bringing out from the
Judiciary Committee the Beck-Linthicum resolution, which proposed that Congress ...
-Straw Votes: A Study of Political Prediction - Page 156 by Claude Everett Robinson, Columbia University Council for Research in the Social Sciences - Elections - 1932 - 203 pages

Yes indeed! NO! It is not a parade but a commemorative gathering to recognize the importance of our rights and the man that started the legislation rolling which ended in the repeal of prohibition. Even though Linthicum was a tea totaller (In his own words: "A temperance man"- he knew the value of our rights. Note that Linthicum was cited as being in favor of just such a parade:

"Representatives J. Charles Linthicum and Vincent Palmisano and former Representative John Philip Hill favor a beer parade in Baltimore such as Mayor Walker plans for New York. Walter H . Buck president of the Baltimore Association Against the Prohibition Amendment; Edgar Allan Poe Jr., head of the Crusaders here, and other civic and political leaders sowed interest in the idea of a national demonstration.
Mr. Buck explained that his association was interested in repeal of the prohibition amendment rather than modification, and expressed regret that the Baltimore Association of Commerce recently refused to follow the lead of similar bodies in Chicago and New York,, which passed resolutions calling on Congress to pass a bill making beer available for tax revenue.
Mr. Poe said he felt sure that the members of the Crusaders would be willing to march here in a beer parade. But in the absence of official advice on the matter from the Crusaders' New York headquarters he was unwilling to commit himself.

-"Linthicum for Beer Parade.", The New York Times.,April 17, 1932, pg.2.

The commemoration will be a good civic experience for young and old. A good chance to learn local history and to take part in the commemoration of our local Patriot Charles Linthicum. All are invited to contribute. The commemoration will take place on the closest Saturday in March to the date the amendment reached the floor of the Congress.

The commemoration will start at the Linthicum shopping center (Linthicum Heights, 21090) and end at the Linthicum Memorial in the Charles Linthicum Park. Anyone wanting to take part can contact me at cbladey@verizon.net

. There will be no alcohol in the route, at the shopping center or in the park at the ending. There will be a gathering at a place to be announced where our freedoms can be exercised.

We welcome one and all to participate. A beer can wreath will be laid at the base of the monument.

The commemoration will proceed in all weather!
Watch this space for further details!

Helping Polar Bear Plungers To Plunge!-Polarbear Plunge 09

2009-01-24T18:10:00.006-05:00

In the tent

Best served cold...

Not an art car

Random folks

Union plunge team

random plungers

Ravens fan

Lovers of artcars- tpyical portrait moment

Captain Defense

And so it was another day another plunger! WE were plungers helpers!

Wassail 2009

2009-01-20T09:23:00.004-05:00

Here you will find images of our Wassail! The Mummers Play! In which St. George vanquished his foes. You will see photos of revelers and the grand cauldron out back where the mystery of wassail occurred. You will see pictures of the hall ready to be sanctified by wassail! The wonders of it all! This occurred January 17, 2009. Be well and may it come again next yeaer!

Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum

2009-01-13T18:59:00.001-05:00

Press Release- Annotated Excerpts

Annotations not in the book itself are in italics

Contact- 410-789-0930 Hutman Productions Conrad Bladey

cbladey@verizon.net

Book Title: Travels with Charlie and Miss Helen Linthicum

Author: Conrad Jay Bladey cbladey@verizon.net

Available from: Hutman Productions. Web order form-http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/jcharleslinthicum/linthicumT.html

Description- Leatherette and wire binding, 92 Pages. Illustrated.

$12.00 with first class postage, Add $3.80 for priority. Discounts for bulk purchases.

Welcome!

I have chosen the annotated excerpt format as the book is not large.I think your readers will find the following portions of interest. I will attach images to e.mail or put them on a disk if necessary.

Charles and Helen Linthicum lived exciting lives contributing greatly to our history. Charles in fact contributed to the creation of our environment as well as to the way our local economy has developed.

As I started my research a few months ago I never thought I would find that the Linthicums were so famous and important. Additionally I did not think that there would be so many places and things in our region associated with them. Therefore, I decided to take the time to gather all of the places and things together so that readers could get a sense of history through visiting them and perhaps learn a bit about the Linthicums as well.

Rather than to go into the lives of the Linthicums I direct you to my extensive web pages on the topic:

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/jcharleslinthicum/jcharleslinthicum.html

The book contains a basic biography derived from the web pages.

One of the things that I decided to do was to include places which are no longer in existence. The Linthicum's St. Paul Street Townhouse for example and the several office buildings inhabited by Charles Linthicum's businesses. Even though the buildings are no longer there one can get an idea of the atmosphere of the neighborhood which will help the reader to provide a setting for the history.

Another of my interests is to provide the information as a starting point. By visiting places readers start to enter the world of the Linthicums. The next step is to learn some of the stories, become inspired to create other artworks and productions such as murals, plays, poetry and even movies….the possibilities are endless. These were fascinating people and by getting to know their legacy of monuments and by walking in their footprints a part of their personalities can be re-activated.

From the Book-p.3

Introduction

Charles and Helen Linthicum began

their lives in the period immediately following the Civil War. Guided by the “Gospel of Wealth” of the Gilded Age, the Linthicums were dedicated to public service and the improvement of the country through patriotism and the development of nationalism. This motivated them to lead efforts to preserve historic sites as well as to build monuments which they hoped would help bind the nation together, inspire it, and give it strength. They were both committed to the improvement of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, and the region, particularly Linthicum Heights, Maryland Charles’ hometown, which the Linthicums developed from an agricultural community of Antebellum Plantations exploiting a slave-based economy into a post war suburb, which promised the freedom of the American dream of home ownership to thousands. This excursion takes you to sites associated with the Linthicums. It includes both former residences and the monuments which they created and helped preserve. It is hoped that this booklet will help continue the missions of the Linthicums to inspire one and all.

From the book p. 4.

Table of Contents

A Few Ideas...5

About the Linthicums...6

Turkey Hill...27

The Linthicum Family Cemetery...30

The Centennial Monument...31

The Grey Stone Church...33

Linthicum United Methodist Church...35

Holly Run Church...39

Twin Oaks Home of Charles Linthicum...45

Biden Linthicum Residence...53

Clark Linthicum Townhouse...55

Business Offices...57

Business Office Linthicum Building...58

Old St. Paul's Church...59

Fort McHenry...60

The USS Constellation...67

St. Paul's School For Boys...67

Druid Ridge Cemetery...72

Church of the Epiphany...73

Towson State University...76

House Foreign Affairs Committee Room...81

Paintings at the Walters Art Gallery...83

Dresses- Maryland Historical Society...84

Stone in the National Cathedral...85

Perry Building and Adelphi Hotel Saratoga Springs, N.Y….86

Perry Graves, Saratoga Springs, N.Y....87

Public Buildings in Baltimore...88

Conclusion and Recommendations...89

For Further Reading...90

From the book- p. 33. The Grey Stone Church has gone through many changes. Many will be surprised to learn that it is symbolic of the birth of the town. The Holly Run chapel was considered too far away to be convenient to the growing village. The site of the Grey Stone Church was considered more convenient. It is interesting to contrast the simple meeting place of the Holly Run Chapel now preserved as part of the campus of the Linthicum United Methodist Church on School lane with the Grey Stone Church. The chapel is a plain neo classical basilica projecting classical values. The church is far more romantic projecting the new suburban country town envisioned by the Linthicums who were developing the area as an escape from the city. It is in Gothic English country church style. Few know that the beautiful window in the front of the church was a gift from the Linthicum family. Every day those who pass could be reminded of them.

Return to Maple Road. Turn right and continue to Camp Meade Road. On the North-East corner of the intersection of Camp Meade Road and Maple Road you will find a grey stone church. This is our next stop.

The Grey Stone Church

The Grey Stone Church at the intersection of Old Annapolis Road and Maple Road is Linthicum’s second Methodist church.

Sweetser Linthicum Junior describes the church and its origins as follows:

“When there was evidence that Linthicum Heights would become the center of a residential community, those interested in the religious life of the people felt that the few remaining activities of Holly Run Methodist Protestant Church which had rendered such splendid constructive religious service for the community during a period of eighty-two years, should be transferred to Linthicum Heights. The Linthicum Heights Company in honor of the parents of the members, Mr. Sweetser Linthicum and Mrs. Laura E. Linthicum, gave two lots of ground on the corner of Old Annapolis and Maple Roads, for the erection of a church thereupon. Through the purchase of these lots, the bequestment of $2,000.00 by Dr. Asa S. Linthicum, to the Linthicum Heights Methodist Protestant Church, and a generous donation from the Methodist Protestant conference and from interested parties, a beautiful new grey stone church was begun and the corner stone laid in June, 1911.

The church contains beautiful stained glass windows, the most conspicuous being the handsome large memorial window at the rear of the church entitled “The Good Shepherd,” placed as a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Sweetser Linthicum by their children. A large bell was installed in the church by Mrs. J. Charles (Helen Perry) Linthicum, in memory of her niece, Mrs. Virginia Perry Dillon. The pulpit furnishings were given by Mrs. Mary Stansbury Pardee, and the inscription on a silver plate upon the pulpit stand marks it as a memorial to herself and husband. A handsome marble baptismal font was given by Dr. and Mrs. Milton Linthicum as memorial to Dr. Linthicum's parents, Mr. Sweetser Linthicum and Mrs. Laura E. Linthicum. In 1933 Congressman J. Charles Linthicum bequeathed the sum of $10,000 to the church for chimes in memory of his wife, Mrs. J. Charles (Helen Perry) Linthicum. In the spring of 1938, members of the Shipley family gave two large altar chairs to the church in memory of their parents, Mr. R. Luther Shipley and Mrs. Annie Linthicum Shipley.

-Linthicum, Sweetser, Jr. A Brief History of Linthicum Heights, Unpublished manuscript Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore Maryland, 1938.

From the book p.53

This is a mysterious place. We know next to nothing about the married life of Charles and Eugenia- but judging from the former glory of this neighborhood we know it started well.

It is interesting to envision the young Charles Linthicum getting his start here in law and then real estate.

Biden Linthicum Residence

No. 2163 Druid Hill Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland

This address no longer exists.

We don't know much about the short marriage of John Charles Linthicum to Eugenia Biden. We have only the wedding announcement, the announcement of the death of Eugenia which includes the residence address and a memorial verses printed below.

Hymeneal. Linthicum-Biden, Fayette Street M. E. Church, Baltimore was crowded Tuesday night of last week, the occasion being the nuptials of Miss. Eugenia May Biden, well known and related in Frederick, and Mr. J. Charles Linthicum. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. B. Stitt, pastor of the church. The bride wore a frock of white satin en traine, trimmed with lace, and wore diamond ornaments. She carried an immense bunch of white chrysanthemums, tied with white satin ribbon. The bridesmaids were Miss Ada Biden, Miss May Beason, Miss Clara Divens and Miss Julia Biden. They were simply attired in cream silk gowns trimmed with lace. Each carried a bunch of pink chrysanthemums, held together with ribbon of corresponding shade. Dr. G. Milton Linthicum acted as best man. The ushers were Wm. T. Markland, Jr., Dr. William S. Love, Samuel S. Linthicum, Harry M. Biden and Wm. Biden. Miss Lillian Biden and Master Edgar S. Benson acted as pages and followed the bridal party to the altar, carrying a wreath of chrysanthemums. A reception was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Biden, parents of the bride, 1329 West Lombard Street. Mr. and Mrs. Linthicum left for a tour North.

-Frederick News, Wednesday, December 06, 1893.

LINTHICUM, - On February 25, 1897, at 1:30 A.M., EUGENIA B., beloved wife of J. Charles Linthicum, and only child of Edward Biden.
Relatives and friends of the family are respectfully
invited to attend the funeral, from her late residence,
No. 2163 Druid Hill Avenue, this (Saturday)
morning, at eleven o'clock. Interment private.
-The Sun (Baltimore) Saturday Morning, February 27, 1897

Linthicum- In remembrance of my niece, Eugenia B. Linthicum, who died one year ago today, February 25, 1897

Dear Eugenia could you speak to us,

And could you live again,

Our longing hearts would then be healed,

But this we wish in vain,

Our hearts are sad and lonely now,

Our grief too deep to tell

But time will come, to us so soon

That we may with you dwell.

You are not forgotten, Eugenia, dear,

Nor ever will you be

For as long as life and memory lasts,

We will always remember thee.

By her Aunt. Mrs. Mary Diven.

-The Sun., 02-25-1898; Volume: CXXII; Issue: 87; Page: 4

From the book p. 72. My journey of discovery started when I questioned the commemoration of Mr. Linthicum as the man who got the Star Spangled Banner recognized as our national anthem. I knew that there was at least a bit more….but I was surprised that there was so much more. What would be commemorated on the monument set up by his wife? It was not the anthem, nor the fight to end prohibition. Here in the cemetery are the graves of Helen and Charles but one is missing. When she died in 1944 Helen stipulated in her will that her adopted son Charles Linthicum II (her nephew) was to be buried in the family plot as well. The wife of Charles' son Charles Linthicum III could not tell me where Charles II has been laid to rest. Perhaps someone out there knows?

Druid Ridge Cemetery

7900 Park Heights Ave., Pikesville, Md. 21208.

Take the Baltimore Beltway (695) to the exit for Park Heights Ave. (129) Go South. Cemetery is at the intersection of Park Heights and Old Court.

Both John Charles Linthicum (8340) and Helen A. Linthicum (12583) were buried beneath a black granite obelisk memorial at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore in the “Groveland” section.

Inscription: In Loving Memory of John Charles Linthicum Beloved Husband of Helen A. Linthicum Born November 26th 1867 Entered into Life Eternal on the 5th day of October 1932, Member of the United States House of Representatives from 1910 to 1932 Chairman of the Committee On Foreign Affairs, Co-Author of the Bill of 1924 for the Improvement of the Foreign Service an Active and Inspiring Leader in the commission on Foreign Service Buildings. A Patriotic and Trusted Servant of the American People, "The Souls of the Righteous are in the Hand of God- Wisdom III I

26.I give and bequeath the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500) to the Druid Ridge Cemetery Company, Pikesville, Maryland, in trust, to invest and reinvest the same and use the income there from, for the placing of flowers or wreaths as may be appropriate, on the graves of my late husband, John Charles Linthicum, and myself in the said Druid Ridge Cemetery on Memorial or Decoration Day, Easter, Christmas, and birthdays of my said husband and myself.

-”Last Will and Testament of Helen A. Linthicum”, No. 8, Case No. 619, File No. 37928, Baltimore City Will J,.H.B. 213-1 Anne Arundel R.G.P. 53-542.

From the book p. 27. Few people even those who live in Linthicum Maryland know about the house up on the hill just before the railroad tracks on Maple road. This is of architectural significance and dates to the earliest founding of the community. It is hard to imagine the house surrounded by farms tended by slaves today. Architecturally one can see how the family progressed from being farmers to projecting their social status via the addition of fancy neo classical architectural elements. This was the birthplace of not only Charles Linthicum but of our history symbolized in its very architecture.

Turkey Hill

Birthplace of John Charles Linthicum, No. 106 West Maple Road, (North side, just West of the RR. Tracks), Linthicum Heights, Md. 21090 Private residence

Maryland Historical Trust Registry Number: AA-114 ,Turkey Hill, (The Homestead) , Sweetser Road, Linthicum Heights, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, c. 1822

Turkey Hill was built about 1822 by William Linthicum. Originally it consisted of a 1 1/2 story frame section and a 3-story field stone section linked together by an open porch. As the family increased in size, Linthicum added another story to the frame portion, making it 2 1./2 stories high. At that time, he also added a one-story front porch across the south façade, built of Neo-Classical design with Doric columns, an elaborate cornice with metopes and triglyphs with dentiled cornices above and below, and a balustrade. Eventually the open porch between the frame and stone parts was enclosed. The frame section is five bays wide, with a central entrance flanked by 4-pane sidelights and surmounted by a transom. Windows are mostly 6/6 sash window flanked by narrow 3/3 sashes. All windows in the stone section are surmounted by brick jack arches. The east end of the stone section is covered by a large early 20th century two–story porch with huge Doric columns and a broken pediment with a large fanlight with tracery in the tympanum. This porch is screened on the first floor and partially enclosed with windows on the second. The second floor also carries a geometric balustrade, interior chimneys rise from each end of the frame section, and the center of the stone section, and from the rear of a gable-roofed rear wing. All appear to be replacements. Three gabled dormers with 6/6 sash project from either side of the roof of the frame section of the house. On the interior, wooden mantels over the fireplaces in the parlor and master bedroom appear to be original. The stairway in the frame portion with its curved balustrade and landings are still present. A mantel in the living room of white Italian marble replaced the old mantel which was destroyed by fire. South of the house is a birdhouse built by William Linthicum, modeled after Camden Station in Baltimore city. A late 19th century carriage house, a late 19th century meat house, and an early 20th century garage also stand on the property...The house has been constantly lived in by one family from the early 19th Century.

-It retains much of its original appearance.

-William Linthicum, excellent carpenter, also built the Sweetser Toll Bridge over the Patapsco on Old Annapolis Road.

-Second Owner Sweetser Linthicum, Father of John Charles Linthicum, was a farmer.

-Third owner, brother of John Charles Linthicum, Seth Hance Linthicum was a lawyer who worked in real estate with John Charles Linthicum. They were responsible for the development of Linthicum Heights and North Linthicum.

-Seth Hance Linthicum severely remodeled the interior of the house in 1910 but saved a few things such as the crane and kettle of the old fireplace.

-When Seth Hance Linthicum served as the first postmaster of Linthicum the house was the first post office.

-John Charles Linthicum was born in the house as were his two brothers: Dr. George Milton Linthicum, Surgeon, Seth Hance Linthicum, Lawyer and Real Estate Developer.

-National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form, National Park Service. August, 1975.

-Source: Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum, Conrad Bladey, 2008

cbladey@verizon.net

410-789-0930

The New Book! Mystery of the Linthicum Portrait at Towson

2009-01-13T18:51:00.003-05:00

Press Release: The Mystery of the Linthicum Portrait- Have you seen this man anywhere?

Contact- Conrad Bladey, cbladey@verizon.net, 410-789-0930.

Description:

Have you seen this man? If so let us know!

This portrait has a mystery! It is a portrait of John Charles Linthicum. It was probably painted about 1900. Artist is unknown.

A few months ago I was inspired by the dedication of a local monument to research the lives of John Charles Linthicum and his wife Helen. This research has produced the book: Travels with Helen and Charlie (a guide to places and things related to John Charles and Helen A. Linthicum) and soon a major academic work on the Linthicums: Uncle Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum Maryland Patriots of the Gilded Age. which will soon be published. As an academic researcher, I am dedicated to perfection. While studying the Last Will and Testament of Helen A. Linthicum I came across the following reference:

(words not in italics below are from my guidebook)

"21.I give and bequeath to the State Teachers College, formerly the State Normal School at Towson, Maryland, in which my late husband John Charles Linthicum, was deeply interested the oil painting of my said late husband which is now hanging in my drawing room."

-”Last Will and Testament of Helen A. Linthicum”, No. 8, Case No. 619, File No. 37928, Baltimore City Will J,.H.B. 213-1 Anne Arundel R.G.P. 53-542. -Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum., Conrad Bladey, 2008

Upon her death, she willed to the school a fine oil portrait of her husband which will be placed in the building named after him."

-Towson State College, Towson, Maryland, Dedication Program for Linthicum Hall and Bufdick Hall, Saturday, November Second, Nineteen Hundred Sixty-Eight at Ten A.M., Burdick Hall. 1968.

- Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum., Conrad Bladey, 2008

Where was this portrait? I contacted

Nadia Nasr
University Archivist & Digital Collections Librarian
Albert S. Cook Library
Towson University
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252
410-704-2398 (o)

410-704-3760 (f)

Nadia was doing a great job helping me with my research. John Charles Linthicum and his wife both were very interested in Towson University. John Charles had attended it when it was the Normal School- he became a teacher. Later he worked on the state commission to build the university, as we now know it. There is a scholarship at Towson still, which was established by the will of Helen A. Linthicum.

I received an e.mail that indicated that more information was discovered. I thanked Nadia who had been most helpful and rushed right over. Tired I reviewed the new folder made a few copies and brought them home. It was only when I got home that I found the reference to the portrait in the program for the dedication of Linthicum Hall on the campus of the University where the picture was to be hung. There was even a small photo of the portrait in the program.

Ok….the question was…..could the portrait be found in the hall? I contacted Nadia who sent students right over to look for it. That was a few weeks ago. Nadia put out the all points bulletin searching for the portrait but she had to report back on 1/9/09 that it has still not been found.

This is an important portrait of John Charles Linthicum as it may well be the earliest one that we know of. The mystery remained. Where is this man? Perhaps someone reading this will know….Check your office walls. Perhaps the storage room….Let me know….410-789-0930. Anyone providing information leading to the painting will receive a free copy of my guidebook- Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum., Conrad Bladey, 2008

Here is what I know about the portrait from my guidebook:

"Mrs. Linthicum shared her husband's interest in

Towson and contributed to the school a sum for student scholarships which still serves its purpose as the Helen A. Linthicum Scholarship Fund. Upon her death, she willed to the school a fine oil portrait of her husband which will be placed in the building named after him."

-Towson State College, Towson, Maryland, Dedication Program for Linthicum Hall and Bufdick Hall, Saturday, November Second, Nineteen Hundred Sixty-Eight at Ten A.M., Burdick Hall. 1968.

- Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum., Conrad Bladey, 2008

Be sure not to confuse the portrait in question with two others that I have discovered:

I have located two other portraits of John Charles Linthicum. The first given by Mrs. Helen Linthicum to the House Foreign Affairs committee following the death of her husband. I have recorded it in my guidebook as follows:

Portrait House Foreign Affairs Committee Room Washington, D.C.

The portrait hangs in room 2200 in the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington. D.C. 20515.

Call the House Foreign Affairs Committee to arrange to visit the portrait. 202-225-5021.

Ritchie presents Linthicum Canvas

Portrait of Marylander Is Accepted by Sol Bloom for Foreign Affairs Group. Painted by T. C. Corner, Governor Pays Tribute to Late

Congressman For Work As Chairman of Committee., (Washington Bureau of the Sun) Washington, Jan. 22- High tribute was paid to the memory and services of the late Representative J. Charles Linthicum by Governor Ritchie in presenting a portrait of the Marylander to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House. Mr.. Linthicum at the time of his death was chairman of the committee.

"I deem it a privilege of doing honor to a very warm friend. We at home are appreciative of his service, his integrity and blameless life. We were hopeful when he became chairman of this committee that he would have an opportunity to do further constructive work."

Painted by Baltimorean

The portrait which was executed by Thomas C. Corner, of Baltimore was accepted by Representative Sol Bloom (Dem. N.Y.) ranking member of the committee, in the absence of Representative Sam D. McReynolds of Tennessee, who was unable to be present.

"In accepting this portrait it does not require a picture to remind us of the great work Mr. Linthicum has done in this committee." said Mr. Bloom. "It was his desire and wish that the United States be represented in foreign countries in a fitting manner and his work as a member of the committee and as a member of the Foreign Building Commission in providing suitable

buildings in foreign lands will remain a monument to his efforts."

Bishop Gives Invocation

Bishop James E. Freeman of St. Albans; Protestant Episcopal Cathedral, pronounced the invocation after the presentation.

A number of officials of the State Department and representatives of foreign countries attended the ceremonies, including Rudolph Leitner counselor of the German Embassy and Dr. Alfred Sze, Minister form the Chinese Republic.

Following the ceremony a reception was held in the Speakers' lobby of the House where more than a hundred Democratic and Republican members left the floor to meet Governor Ritchie.

After the reception Governor Ritchie was the guest of honor at a luncheon given by the Maryland delegation in the Speakers' dining room

.-The Baltimore Sun., Jan. 24.1933.

-Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum., Conrad Bladey, 2008.

This is clearly a different portrait done later in life.

News of a second portrait came via a newspaper article. I reported it in my guidebook as follows:

Portrait

Another portrait of John Charles Linthicum was located and purchased by the Linthicum Family. It is currently on display in the ground floor of Auburn House on the campus of Towson State University. Auburn House is located on the west side of the campus near the stadium off of Auburn Drive.

"Linthicum portrait finds "resting place" at Towson State University. A portrait of former Re. J. Charles Linthicum-a major backer of making "The Star Spangled Banner" the national anthem-will find a permanent home tomorrow when it's donated to Towson State University. Just three years after the Linthicum family saved the portrait from the auction block, it will be donated for display in the alumni house. "We're all getting old," said Sweetser Linthicum Jr., 86 (?) as, the congressman's nephew, "Next thing you know you're floating around, and someone will be selling it at an estate sale or it will be sitting in an auction house. I want to get things organized and have it at its final resting place."…

…By chance, the family learned through a friend that the portrait by French artist Theo Dube was going to be auctioned off by Harris Auctions of Baltimore City. “They didn't tell us a thing, it had a beautiful frame on it but it was in bad shape," he said. A whole family crew went up for the auction, including Sweetser Linthicum and in law Paul Wildman. Mr.Wildman, an artist, headed the bidding and bought the portrait. Later he retouched it and made a special frame for the picture to replace the ornate, but broken original one. The painting was placed above the deep red couch on the red brocade wall in Sweetser Linthicum's home on Sweetser Road in Linthicum. But tomorrow, Dr. Hoke L. Smith president of Towson State University is hosting a special reception honoring the Linthicum family. Mr. Linthicum and his brother Seth Linthicum of Tucson, Arizona, chose Towson State for the portrait's final resting place because of the congressman's special attachment to the university. It will hang in the Alumni House.

Not only did the congressman graduate from the university- when it was known as the State Normal School- but he was instrumental to relocating the school to Towson. During his long political career, J. Charles Linthicum helped obtain state approval for the construction at the new campus. "Uncle Charley" and his wife Helen gave a lot of money to the University for Scholarships. Mr. Linthicum said. The university named a building after them in 1968. After teaching in Anne Arundel County for several years, J. Charles Linthicum began his political career in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1903.

- The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland , Wednesday, April 07, 1993, Page 16,

-Travels with Charlie and Mrs. Helen Linthicum., Conrad Bladey, 2008

This portrait is also not the same. It was done earlier in life than the last one but not as early as the one mentioned in the will.

I am most interested in any information, photos, or other images of John Charles Linthicum and his wife Helen.

I can be reached at

cbladey@verizon.net

410-789-0930

Bonfire German Grand Piano!

2008-10-19T14:23:00.005-04:00

Actual Revised and printed Letter to Gazette

2008-10-15T22:29:00.001-04:00

Linthicum park

I would like to thank Verena Voll Linthicum for her response to my suggestion that the safe, law-abiding and responsible use of alcohol be permitted in the J. Charles Linthicum Park - just as it is so permitted in family homes, back yards, community festivals, and even at special "all American" places where families gather such as Camden yards. (Maryland Gazette, Oct. 8)

One such place should be highlighted here here: Fort McHenry. For the past 20 years I have been present at most Flag Day and Defender's Day celebrations at the home of the Star-Spangled Banner, Fort McHenry.

It was a place near and dear to "Uncle Charlie's" heart and never in that patriotic crowd of families have I ever seen public drunkenness, disorderly conduct or littering. Believe me, many alcoholic beverages are raised to salute the flag and the brave defenders of the fort.

Responsible consumption of alcohol is permitted at Fort

McHenry on the wonderful lawn every day, as it is in most federal parks, and I have never visited such a clean and peaceful place where law and order cleanliness, and decency prevail.

We have come a long way toward tolerance of many practices, life-ways and personal preferences since the days of prohibition. In my opinion we need to extend that tolerance to the strictly law-abiding, and moderate drinker.

I want to thank you again Verena for joining the discussion and for your efforts and those of the tireless committee workers and our local politicians for supporting this wonderful park and monument.

Every citizen should work as hard to help to keep our parks beautiful-this is not a job for the county government alone!

CONRAD BLADEY

Linthicum

Letter to the Editor Md Gazette October 8 2008

2008-10-08T20:52:00.000-04:00

Linthicum memorial

While Conrad Bladey certainly has a right to his opinion, how sad it would be if his desire to allow liquor to be legally consumed in the J. Charles Linthicum Memorial Park were to be granted (Maryland Gazette, Oct. 1).

A beautiful memorial and a lovely park, which was suggested and came to fruition through the efforts of Ted Sophocles, would be desecrated. I don't believe Mr. Bladey can deny that the legality of liquor being allowed in the park would bring debris and probably unwelcome behavior in a family oriented park.

Two members of the community, Ken and Carol Glendening, along with many other members of the community have spent hours cleaning and beautifying Benton Avenue Park. This work is done on a purely volunteer basis. What an insult it would be to imply that here is another park for them to clean.

The fact that J. Charles Linthicum was not in favor of Prohibition is not synonymous with his being in favor of the public use and abuse of alcohol. I have faith that Frank Marzuco, county director of recreation and parks, will use his wisdom to keep this park free of alcoholic beverages. To allow liquor to be legally consumed in this park would be a travesty.

I would also like to address the fact that Ella Virginia Houck Holloway encouraged the congressman to submit the bill on the National Anthem. She certainly did and whenever the "Star Spangled Banner" was mentioned in the family, Mrs. Holloway was always credited with having been the one who encouraged "Uncle Charlie" to submit this bill

Again, I respect Mr. Bladey's right to his opinion. I just ask that he not try to impose that opinion on the rest of us.

VERENA VOLL LINTHICUM

Linthicum

My Response to letter to the editor of the Gazette written by Verena Linthicum

2008-10-08T20:49:00.002-04:00

I would like to thank Verena Voll Linthicum ("Letters to the Editor", 10/8/08) for her heartfelt response to my suggestion that the safe, law-abiding and responsible use of alcohol be permitted in the J. Charles Linthicum park' just as it is so permitted in family homes, back yards, community festivals, and even at special "all American" places where families gather such as Camden yards (and most Baseball and football stadiums that I have visited) and one that should stand out here: Fort McHenry. For the past twenty years I have been present at just about every Flag Day and Defender's Day celebration at the Home of the Star Spangled Banner, Fort McHenry, a place near and dear to "Uncle Charlie's" heart and never in that patriotic crowd of families have I ever seen public drunkenness, disorderly conduct or littering. Believe me; many alcoholic beverages are raised to salute the flag and the brave defenders of the Fort. Alcohol is also permitted in the park on the wonderful lawn every day, as it is in most federal parks, and I have never visited such a clean and peaceful place where law and order and decency prevail.

J. Charles Linthicum was in his own words a "temperance man," yet he opposed prohibition. "Charlie," throughout his long and honorable career in both the State Senate and in the U.S. House of Representatives, was the servant of the people. He opposed the bosses Mr. Linthicum always favored the Democratic process. Whether it be in his battle against the party bosses:

What we are against is the system, because the Democratic party needs no bosses(Governor Brown in this instance). It is a party of the people, for the people and by the people, and if controlled by a boss system it is neither of the people, for the people or by the people. It would then be a party whose very life is centralized in the hands of a boss and that boss, more the representative of the corporate interests than of the people."-5/5/07 Baltimore American, p. 18

or in standing up for the Democratic process when it came to the repeal of Prohibition when he favored the convention process rather than the state assembly process:

I would suggest an addition to that resolution, and the addition would be that this resolution of Mr. Sabath's (repealing prohibition) should be submitted to the convention, because it is a question which invades the individual rights of the citizens and not the State's rights as is expressed by the legislature. -Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives, Seventy First Congress Second Session H.J. Res. 11,38,99,114,219,and 246.,Serial 5, February 12,13,19,20,26,27, March 4,1930, Part 1, United States Government Printing office, Washington , 1930. p. 397

J. Charles Linthicum was adamant throughout his career that Prohibition would never triumph against the will of the people and culture as a whole. As the Rev. J. A. Homan wrote in 1910:

As against these extremists it has been the aim of the writer to discuss the problem from its chief points of view with every effort of impartiality, and vindicate the standing of the strictly moderate drinker ethically and physiologically without disturbing the higher claims of the voluntary abstainer. At the same time he has endeavored to show that the license system is sufficiently efficacious in the restriction and regulation of the liquor traffic. -Prohibition: The Enemy of Temperance, Homan, J. A, Cincinnati, Christian liberty bureau,1910, "Preface".

As is evident all around us in our parks and at our ball fields and community festivals, Homan's point is still valid. In our pluralistic society we can include a wide range of life choices. We have come a long way toward greater tolerance since the days of prohibition. In my opinion we need to extend that tolerance to "the strictly moderate drinker".

To return to "Uncle Charlie" and his love of the Flag, Fort McHenry and the National Anthem, at one point the fate of Fort McHenry was far from certain. It was not yet a national park and Historic Shrine. The government was considering using it as a prison. Why? one might ask: Were there not enough prisons already? No, there was an extreme shortage of prisons in the nation due to the high volume of convictions of those who violated the prohibition laws. Mr. Linthicum frequently cited the crowding of the prisons and the overwhelming of the courts as one of the most important reasons for opposing Prohibition.

I want to thank you Verena for joining the discussion and for the efforts of yourself, the tireless committee workers and our local politicians for supporting this wonderful park and monument. Every citizen should work as hard to help to keep our parks clean and beautiful- this is not a job for the county government alone! There are many views always, concerning all of our freedoms. The freedom to consume alcoholic beverages legally, safely and decently is just one of them. I believe all voices need to be heard and I would never impose any other opinion upon the community other than the opinion that "Uncle Charlie" would have insisted upon- the will of the community at large. It is my opinion as it was his that local communities should decided by the vote. As an anthropologist I fully understand that local communities and cultural groups have the right to their beliefs and values. If the community at large in Linthicum wishes to return to Prohibition or maintain the vestige of Prohibition which lingers in our park rules so be it. I look forward however, to the democratic process and the process of modification of the park rules which I shall engage in with the County.

One last note- ever since visiting the beautiful park and monument I have been inspired to research the life and works of J. Charles Linthicum. I shall soon publish an academic biography and have created a web page so that the public can follow the research.

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/jcharleslinthicum/jcharleslinthicum.html

I invite input and reader responses. I can be reached at cbladey@verizon.net.

(for those interested in the work of J.A. Homan you can find his entire tract Prohibition:the Enemy of Temperance on line here: http://www.archive.org/details/prohibitionenemy00homarich)

Conrad Bladey

Linthicum,

Historian, Anthropologist, Folklorist,Artist.

Gazette article photo

2008-10-02T00:09:00.003-04:00

About the New Park article from Gazette

2008-10-01T23:51:00.000-04:00

Oh say, can you see?

By SEAN PATRICK NORRIS Staff Writer
Subscribe to the Maryland Gazette

Agitator, artist, historian, or nitpicker?

Call Conrad Bladey what you want, but he is asking a divisive question about the new J. Charles Linthicum monument and park.

Dedicated in last month, the granite pedestal and bronze plaque honor the community of Linthicum's most famous son for authoring legislation that made "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem.

Mr. Bladey, however, wants his neighbors and others to look deeper. He wants the county Department of Recreation and Parks to grant an exception to its ban on alcohol in parks to honor the man who lead the way toward ending the nation's experiment with mandatory teetotaling.

"I award the most important achievement to his involvement in repealing Prohibition," said Mr. Bladey, a historian, folklorist and artist known around the community for his colorful "art cars."

"He was a libertarian and for individuals' rights. I wonder what he would think about people not being able to drink in the park that is dedicated to him."

The organizers of the monument have a good guess.

"I'm sure he would turn over in his grave if we had drinking at the park," said Ken Glendenning, president of the Linthicum-Shipley Improvement Association.

"I'm sure he would be offended."

County officials know about Mr. Bladey's idea, but are dubious about the possibility of granting his request.

"We only have two venues out of 140 parks and sanctuaries where I as the director allow exclusive use (of alcohol) and these have been grandfathered in," said Frank Marzuco, county director of recreation and parks.

The Linthicum monument was dedicated Sept. 13 and stands as a commemoration to the congressman's legislation making the "Star-Spangled Banner" the National Anthem in 1931. The plaque atop the chest-high pedestal includes the words and music to the anthem and a small American flag.

In 1932, Linthicum joined with Pennsylvania Rep. James M. Beck to submitted a bill repealing the 18th Constitutional Amendment and its ban on alcohol sales. He argued the law, passed in 1919, was a criminal justice disaster and a national health threat.

"I have enough faith in the American people to know that they will not continue this experiment which has been so destructive to so many of our people, so drastic in its enforcement and so destructive to the life, liberty and morality of our country," he wrote in a 1932 op-ed piece for the New York Times.

The bill was reported out of committee on March 15, and even though it failed on the floor Linthicum was credited with cracking the ice on repeal.

Later that year, Prohibition and the Great Depression were the keys to New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt's victory in a landslide presidential election. Prohibition was repealed in March 1933, six months after the congressman died.

Mr. Glendenning said Linthicum opposed Prohibition on grounds of individual rights, but would object to people drinking in a park dedicated to him,

Robert Linthicum, the congressman's great nephew, said during dedication ceremonies - attended U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and Rep. John Sarbanes - said the congressman was a teetotaler.

"I really think it is ridiculous of him (Mr. Bladey) to want to do that," said Mr. Glendenning, who worked on the monument with local historian Mark Schatz. "I think that's a bad plan to allow that in the park."

Mr. Schatz, director of the Historical and Genealogical Research center at the Kuethe Library, said focusing the monument on the National Anthem is appropriate. He called it Linthicum's most significant contribution to American life.

"There were several songs that caught the fancy of the public and most of those, as I understand them, were conscious productions," Mr. Schatz said.

"The 'Banner' was a reaction to a significant historical event and for that reason it should be our national anthem."

But Mr. Bladey also questions whether the real credit for making the song commemorating the bombardment of Fort McHenry should go to Ella Virginia Houck Holloway, chairman of the Committee on the Correct Use of the Flag of the United States Daughters of the War of 1812. She convinced Linthicum to propose the legislation, he said.

Mr. Bladey, who like the late congressman doesn't drink, said he hopes to get a permanent exception or an exception for a parade he is planning in March to honor the committee vote. But he'll go on with the parade regardless.

"Even though the parade has to be dry, and the park has to be dry, there's nothing that says the reception has to be dry," he said.

Mr. Bladey says he admires the park, the monument and the work that went into it. But he argues the omission of the Prohibition effort is significant.

"As a historian it kind of irks me," Mr. Bladey said. "It reflects upon our times. You shake your head and say, 'Why? Why? Why?' "

Artcar schedule for artscape 08 tentative...

2008-07-13T15:51:00.002-04:00

So it is the sunday before artscape....nothing much has unfolded and being within a week I am setting out a few things so that people will know what is happening. Subject to change and can be verified by contacting me at cbladey@verizon.net

1. Reception for artcar artists- Friday after artscape. Cook out 402 Nancy Ave. Linthicum, Md.
21090. We will not be staying all that late at the festival. If we dont bring the food and stuff to the festival we will do it at the house. All cartists welcome. Check me to see how this unfolds.

2. Horn Hat parade. For kids so we will try to do this relatively early on each day. I will have a sign up on the board by my cars early each day with a time. For now lets try something like 12-1.

3. Walk to Drink (see the walk to drink blog-one of mine) I will have bar tour maps available until supplies last. Bring a group and join a fun tour demonstrating how it is easy to walk to drink. Take the light rail and avoid cars completely. A stack of maps will be available by my cars.

Those wishing to contact us can do so any time this week. Lets get the media coverage done in advance where possible. Just write cbladey@verizon.net I will be on the site setting up early friday morning like 9 or so....to start.

all for now Keep in touch....

Conrad

Do arts festivals help artists- maybe not...letter to editors

2008-07-13T15:46:00.002-04:00

When you see an artcar on the road don't think of the festival or the museum think of a person who probably does not benefit at all from so called "arts festivals" there is really little or no direct support for the arts. Most cartists do not use their cars as retail outlets (some do but not most) generally we put in hard work gas and suffer wear and tear and exhaustion ....meanwhile vendors and others are benefiting. Some day we will see festivals where every one volunteers and any money trickles down to every participant but we are not there yet. I don't mind giving but it needs to be known. When a paper talks of a budget just remember that we aren't getting anything. Often we don't even get any form of hospitality.....so I wrote the following letter to clear things up.

To The Editors

Artscape's Mask Slips

As a Baltimore artist I read with interest your article of Sunday 07.13.2008, Arts &Life. 8E "Artscape Expands into Station North District". All is revealed when we see behind Artscape's mask that the intended beneficiaries of the "$1.1 million dollar budget" are not the artists but, local businesses such as those inhabiting the Station North District, vendors and other business men and women who offer their wares for sale at Artscape..

Many who read the promotion of Artscape will assume that as a festival celebrating the arts that local "Artists" benefit. Let me assure the readers of the Sun that not a cent finds its way to local artcar artists who donate their cars, time and energy each year to entertaining thousands -all for free. If everyone involved in Artscape made similar donations of time, goods, services and energy the $1.1 million might do much good elsewhere. This is something to contemplate. At least your local artcar artists are doing their part.

We do not sell anything. We are not businesses. The support that Artscape provides for our art comes in sweat, gas costs and wear and tear- all costs that Artscape generates. Yet, we do it gladly and are thankful for everyone who stops in to say hello.

This year as costs for maintenance and gas are pushing us to our limits we would like to remind Station North Businesses, vendors and Artscape Visitors that they can help by utilizing the donation slots in our cars to keep us going. We would like to be here next year. This will not be possible if the burden of the kind of "support for the arts" that Artscape represents for us continues without relief.

Conrad Bladey

Art Car Artist- Cartist

402 Nancy Ave. Ave.

Linthicum, Md.

21090

cbladey@verizon.net

Baltimore Sun Article Today

2008-06-29T07:48:00.001-04:00

Five Things I Have To Have Now

By Alex Plimack

June 29, 2008

Self-proclaimed "cartist" Conrad Bladey has been creating works of art from cars for the past 20 years in Linthicum. The extravagant vehicles have become staples at the annual Artscape, where two years ago they were sans gas engines. Bladey then sought to create a human-powered art car, what he says was the natural progression in the project. The Art Gurney, devised from a gurney bought at the Maryland State Surplus Warehouse, was decorated with buttons and paint from other car projects and serves as a memorial to a friend who passed away during its construction.

"It is quite useful for hauling the food, cooler and other essentials, but it is also comfortable as a lounge chair," Bladey says.

Bladey will feature the Art Gurney at Artscape in July, where it will be the centerpiece of his horn hat collection (brass horns on artistic hats that can be played while walking).

Gasoline and money

"I shall combine two into one. The arts community and institutions consume art, creating wear and tear more than they support it, so we are left with many repairs and lots of wear and tear on the vehicles. ... I do not regret the money spent; however, real support for the arts would be good and helpful. I do not want a profit - I would give it away. I just hope to break even."

A place in the country, paid off

"I am a student of architecture and would greatly appreciate an old Victorian eclectic-styled structure with elements of many architectural styles. A structure for the mind to journey."

Revelers

"In addition to being an artist, I am a professional folklorist. I specialize in calendar customs - customs and celebrations that occur at the same time each year. Despite knowing the rituals, artifacts and recipes, and customs, it is difficult these days to find proper revelers."

A season ticket to the opera

"It is torture that one of mankind's greatest inventions, opera, is kept out of reach of the ordinary citizen because of inflated costs at all levels."

A new car

"Preferably large; preferably with its own gas. It will be made into an art car one minute after I receive it! All of my current cars are old."

Open Studio First weenend in August Y'all Come! Free!

2008-06-26T11:15:00.003-04:00

Press Release June 13,2008

From/Contact: Conrad Bladey, Hutman Artcars, 410-789-0930 cbladey@verizon.net

Topic: Open Studio-Tours-Food Sales-Art-Artcars: "Where do Artcars Come from Daddy?"

Date: Saturday/Sunday August 2-3 Rain Date August 9-10

Place: Hutman Artcar Studio and Visionary Art Environment 402 Nancy Ave. Lnthicum, Md. 21090

To find us go here: http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/findus/findus.html

Summary: On display: Hutman Artcars, Artcar Related hats, horn-hats, and costumes. Meet the visionary artists Conrad and Margaret Bladey. Tour the Hutman Art Environment, Enjoy the Gardens. Artcar Notecards for sale, Hutman Publications for Sale. at or near cost. Music, Light refreshments, yard sale, bake sale, horn hat parade. Bring your children! Sidewalk chalk art.

Details: For almost 30 years Conrad and Margaret Bladey have created wondrous visionary artcars at the Hutman Studio and Visionary Environment in Linthicum. Many "firsts" in the Artcar world including the first use of large art magnets, street line coverings, solar lights on artcars, horn hats, were invented here. The studio has produced the following artcars: Sticker car I, Sticker Car II, Party Car, Handy Car, The Mondrian Mobile, The Sole Car, the Magnet Truck and most recently Stella the star car and the Jonn's Paradise Art Gurney. Many horn hats have been created here as well. When we have not been creating artcars we have been adding to the Visionary Art Environment. As you wander around the garden you will find sculptures made from cast iron piano plates in the form of butterflies and birds and reptiles. Under the dogwood are bowling balls cornering a few helpless pins. The studio Leg Gate is a favorite covered with doll legs painted gold with two large bug and frog sand boxes on the exterior. There is the decision tree and a good number of European Gnomes. Visitors are greeted by a jewel encrusted shrine to the last manual typewriter on the front walk ivy growing in the keys. Bachus fountain adds cool comfort in the pond enclosure. As music plays out back visitors will have an opportunity to assist the self-funded visionary artists through the purchase of Hutman Publications, Photos of Artcars, Artcar Notecars, yard sale and baked goods items. Light refreshments will be served, music, visitors can try their hand at chalk art and there will be a procession of horn hats. Visitors can explore the artcars up close that they have seen traveling at high speeds on the roads. Cartists will be available to take their questions.

Hutman Artcars are almost entirely funded by the Bladey family. This means many sacrifices for materials and to keep the cars road worthy. We depend on the generosity of the public. We do not regularly sell art at festivals so we depend on donations made and this one event each year helps us to cover costs. Which are in-fact never covered entirely. Additionally many visitors come because they have seen the cars on the road and they wanted photos and to take them safely. This provides the public with a great opportunity to ask questions and experience the art.

To explore the Visionary Art Environment and Hutman artcars go here: http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/nartcars.html

For More photos of the garden go here

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/envorn/thewrap08.html

For Artcars Go here

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/artcars/hutmanartcars.html

For an Update concerning our activities and recent photos go here Highly recommended!

http://hutmanspeasantworld.blogspot.com/

The Great Artistic Divide

2008-06-26T11:01:00.001-04:00

Greetings good people! and Good editors too!

Artist Inc. vs Artist Think

As a Folklorist and Anthropologist it is my calling to focus on the cultural aspects of art. It is my profession. That is why I seem to talk about it more. It is all that education and graduate school.

As an artcar artist I can not help wonder how my obsession with the work relates to the cultures and societies around me. Why am I in the box that I am in? Is it a good box? Is it the right box? My obsession with the art and driving the art and talking about the art and acting out around the art is costly- much time, much money, much preparation, much effort many car repairs and a lot of gas money. Most of these resources I don't really have! The investments motivate inquiry. What am I doing here? Where is the train heading and how do I improve the ride? How do I manage to select the destination? What is going on?

If you haven't ever been to a covered dish dinner you need to find one and take part. You need to do this over time regularly-they grow on you. These events along with sandwich swaps were staples of my upbringing.In Baltimore I have found my covered dish home at Zion Lutheran Church of the City of Baltimore -each Sunday the coffee hour is magnificent- Don't take Prarie Home Companion's word for it: Lutheran food is the best- come on down. Several nights a year almost once a month. It was a communal table. It has become the way I pursue my obsessive art. My cars are covered dishes. I create them to give them to those around me- to share. As with the covered dish dinner in the church basement I take the time-allow the obsession to run wild and get creative with my recipes. I bring the covered dish - more than I need to consume myself - over the top- so as to feed others. Not just to feed them but to draw them to the table where art like the covered dishes feeds the mind, provokes thought and sets the stage for human interaction. That is what it is about. Conversations, stories- mine- about meeting with the law, close encounters, stories of Baltimore Hons and Walmart shoppers experiencing art for the first time in their cultural desert. At church we sang hymns, told stories, talked about recipes of the ancestors and only marginally ever touched on religion. Some of my favorite and often "adult" stories and jokes have been found in church halls!

In your home town you probably have covered dish dinners somewhere. Sandwich exchanges too maybe- when you bring a category of sandwich- meat or peanut butter veg or cheese in a quantity plenty enough for others. You are probably however, more acquainted with the other side of the cultural divide. That is the fast food strip. We have one just a few blocks away. One of every burger, chicken, uncomfortable chairs so you will eat and leave. Money must be exchanged before eating. You have to generate a bill to partake. This is not like my art, or, my obsession. I don't want money in the way of my food. I don't want to generate a bill, I don't want to employ some high school student just to eat and partake, enjoy and relate.

Ok you are saying...he is about to launch into some sort of discrimination against capitalism. NO! Not at all. Capitalism is not the issue. Capitalists are great people. Someone has to run the economy. This discussion is not about that. It is different. It is about the milk, water, tea and coffee and the church hall. and lets not forget the dessert.

You see at our church when you brought your covered dish to share and create the wonrous cultural atmosphere for one and all to partake of you were given the use of the church hall to eat in and the church provided through community donations, the beverages and dessert. As children we could not wait for the sweets and chocolate milk which we did not get every day at home.

Ok I will return to artcars....

After years and years of artcar events. Much pondering of the realities. I have been driven to conclude that artcars like it or not, are a part of what our cultures and societies calls and created as the art community. The roles are created for us by those around us. The art world is structured. We are in a box, on a train, going to a destination created and determined largely by others.- City governments, Chambers of Commerce, State offices of Tourism and development. In Baltimore it is in the title: "Office of Promotion and the Arts". Note that promotion comes before arts. Unlike the church artists have no roles in administration and do not inform anything. We cartists are not involved in the process- we are not able to volunteer as in the church covered dish dinner- to help brew the coffee make the tea, bring in the desserts or even clean up. Officals choose the box, the destination which is generally next to the excessivly loud DJ stage which makes telling of stories generally impossible.

As in the outside world within the art community we have also the capitalists and the covered dishers. I am in the latter category but, you probably guessed that already.

At Artscape in Baltimore of the participants be they on musical stages, roving as performers, in concert halls or hanging their paintings on exhibit hall walls 99.999 %
are capitolists. That is to say the city pays them a fee or they work in "INC." Next to their painting on the wall you will see that it is for sale or you will see their business card or even...."we accept major credit cards" Within the artcar community some good people, great artcar artists also work in "INC." they just bring their cash registers along with the covered dish. Again some of my best friends are capitalists and they are wonderful. Money is not dirty. Business is good. Just so I can get to the covered dish - their artcar and if it is primairly an artcar they can come too.

The point is not to discriminate but to include and t to know ourselves. What box have we been put in? Where are we being told we have to go?

Essentially for me- Where is the chocolate milk? Where is the desert at our covered dish dinner? I call these things "support for the arts". You hear this term often. It is generally used by city agencies to tell us what festivals are all about. Yet. I often find the beverages and desert absent. I do see a lot of "INC." - so it must be "Art" if a lot of "ink" is used? No I don't think so.

When the public attends our covered dish dinners they do so holding programs that read "promotion of the arts" yet the last time I looked there is no desert no chocolate milk most of the time (I even have to sing my own hymns:write my own Public Relations press releases) There is a great illusion that the arts are supported. Somehow I don't think so.

Last time I checked I am baking my covered dish, paying for the food, making enough to share with a good number of others and then I take the dish home and wash it out. Should I perhaps change things and cook perhaps Octopus Greek style in its own : "INC." I dont think so. You know I think that the public would rather not have ink but traditional baked beans, peanut butter sandwiches and mac and cheese baked dish. Anyway that is what they are lead to believe that the agencies of city government that they fund to put on arts events are providing.

So I go to organized events to spend money on wear and tear, gas, new obsessive art. I do so without undergarments, unbeknownst to the public I have no "support"- no bra, no jock strap nothing. No beverages or dessert.

Ok I can hear the capitalist cartist shouting "eat my shorts" No! Not going to do that!

What will I do? I will do a lot of work to let the public know that they are at McDonalds and not at the covered dish dinner. And. I will work as hard as I can to find a suitable church hall where we can all gather to bring our covered dish dinners and festivals with beverages and deserts can happen. I am thinking of going on Friday to my favorite church hall the I 95 rest stop in Laurel Maryland. No illusions about public support for the arts there. Just the donation slot in the car or truck which is totally optional- that is for the beverages and desert.

I am also going to work very hard to remove the two brands burned into the two cheeks of my backside which Read: "Artscape" and "American Visionary Art Museum". It might be painful but I think that without them I can still find that church hall somewhere for the covered dish dinner. And the beverages and desert will be there as well. Look out for the welcome to the inside exhibit at artscape. Learn what it is like to be as a visionary outsider cut off from the desert and beverages at the feast as you leave something outside the gate before you go in to view the frog car. Think about how we might all work to create a strip of covered dish dinner halls which is as big and as magnificent as the fast food strips we see dominating our so called "support for the arts" events.

I think I can count on you good people!

For more information about our work here at Hutman Artcars visit the blog:
http://hutmanspeasantworld.blogspot.com/

For information about our cars go to:
http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/artcars/hutmanartcars.html

Watch out for our Open Studio with free food and artcars and entertainment- First Weekend in August- maybe a few covered dishes will turn up-I will do the baked beans and mac and cheese baked dish. You see....its easy! See the blog above for the press release about that.

Conrad Bladey
Peasant Visionary Cartist
cbladey@verizon.net
410-789-0930

Gurney becomes great tent frame at flag day Fort McHenry

2008-06-16T13:29:00.002-04:00

Further work on the Inside outside - signs

2008-06-13T13:42:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the OUTSIDE!

Please leave something at the entrance to be a symbol of loss-pick it up on the way out….

Artists loose, we all loose when people, ideas, feelings and Art are kept outside.

Outsider or Visionary Artists practice unusual art using techniques that are not common, ordinary or traditional. We challenge the mainstream but we are still people, still artists.

Often we as visionary artists practicing techniques and creating art that is outside the mainstream are kept on the outside as people, as artists. We are not "in the loop" of the local Arts scene. Organizations and sponsors bring us to festivals but they do not bring us into the conference rooms for planning events as members of the team. Local cartists are not paid to be at events or helped in any way. We draw the crowds but do not draw the "support for the arts" which is so often proclaimed.

Many types of art and many mediums used by artists once were outside of the mainstream. Modern artists such as Pollack and Rothko struggled for acceptance so that they could stay alive. Leonardo Di Vinci was a bit strange after all the brilliant artist wrote backwards, Vincent Van Gogh cut his ear off and had a most difficult time winning acceptance.

The Wrap- Why?

This has been the year of wrapping in Baltimore- A fence was placed around a popular city park. Here we have placed a barrier around a well known artcar. The barrier is a symbol of the barriers that cultures and groups put up to keep the new, unusual and different away from the mainstream. The barrier here symbolizes the "glass barrier" that separates visionary and outsider artists from local organizations and institutions and cultures. We are here but often you don't see the barrier. We are here but no one knows that we really are not a part of the team or involved with the institutions that are associated with us.

These tragic barriers keep art from spreading. New ideas and techniques are kept apart. Often we can see the barriers by the words people use.

Weird, Strange, Crazy, Wild, Madcap, What the ****.

How would a child ever choose to pursue an art form and become an artist if they knew that they would enter this off limits category?

Why not- Innovative, creative, expressive, daring, modern?

Today we ask you to think of how you might be maintaining that barrier. We call out to the arts communities- "Artists Tear down That wall"

Open Studio First Weekend in August Aug 2-3 rain date 8-9

2008-06-12T13:47:00.002-04:00

That's Right....we are having an open studio event Auguest 2-3 2008 402 Nancy Ave. Linthiucm, Md. 21090...Publications for Sale, Artcars on Display, refreshments, Notecards for sale, music in the garden, yard sale.....general clowing around...and of course all the art in the art environment. For details cbladey@verizon.net bring your donations...9-7 or whenever....

First of the New Conehead family more soon

2008-06-10T07:50:00.002-04:00

they need a bit of make up yet....

The Didge Hat is Back

2008-06-08T19:47:00.002-04:00

After resting in the porch and being gnawed upon by the local mice the digeridoo hat is now back in service. Just need a new rubber connector mouthpiece and we can summon the spirits. It is designed to resemble a termite hill....who knows maybe someday I might flare out the bell a bit.

Come in to the outside- car wrap photos

2008-06-06T12:49:00.002-04:00

The barriers project the words that divide the outsider from the public. These will be acompanied by photos of Leonardo and Van Gogh both who could have been and probably were conisered weird and crazy in their time. One cut off his ear and the other wrote backwards...In this way we can see the visionary outsider artist in a cultural context - the methods may be outsider while the artist as individual need not be. Children hearing and using these descriptive terms will be more reluctant to enter our world- they need to be free of them.

Dial an artcar

2008-06-06T09:55:00.001-04:00

Press Release June 5, 2008

Topic: A first for the world of artcars: Call the Artcar! Baltimore Artcars now can be reached via telephone! Find out about them when you see them!

Date: July 18-20

Place: Artscape, Baltimore, Md.

Contact: Conrad Bladey, 510-789-0930 cbladey@verizon.net

Summary: "Oh my God! What is that?" is heard many times each day by Conrad Bladey, Visionary Artcar Artist as he drives his artcars. People want to know! What is it? How long did it take? What does it all mean? They call out in traffic and from the sidewalks. Now all people who "need to know" do not have to go to great dangerous lengths to talk to the driver. All they have to do is get out their cell phone and literally call the artcar. The phone number is right on the side of the vehicle or in the rear.

This is a FIRST for the world of artcars!

Conrad Bladey worked with the on-line voicemail provider Grand Central to obtain a voice mail greeting and mail box for his artcar the Magnet Truck. For Artscape and other events when multiple cars are on the road Bladey will use his Verizon voice mail account to give each a distinct voicemail announcement.

In just a moment a visitor to the car at the Artscape Festival can get out their cell phone and find out all about the car that they have encountered.

Conrad Bladey is a self-funded, visionary, outsider artcar artist. His main artcar web page is here:

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/artcars/hutmanartcars.html

Try out the phone number: 410-981-9256.

Artcar artists- They are not Outsiders- Just the Art! The Wrap Makes a strong case for more incluson.

2008-06-06T08:10:00.001-04:00

Press Release

Topic: "Come in to the Outside" Art installation highlights the cultural reality of the

Date: July 18-20 2008

Place: Artscape, Baltimore Maryland

Contact: Conrad Bladey, 510-789-0930 cbladey@verizon.net

Summary: Outsider Artist- Artcar to be wrapped by fabric barrier. The "Welcome to the Inside" installation walls off an artcar with colorful fabric a la Christo. A gate lets visitors "Come in to the Outside". The fence symbolizes the cultural divide which exists between the arts community and visionary cartists like Conrad Bladey. Visitors will be asked to leave something - a shoe, hat, article of clothing…something behind as they enter the installation thus symbolizing that which artists have to give up in order to be Outsider Artists or Visionaries. It is hoped that the installation will bring the cultural isolation of cartists to the attention of the Baltimore Arts community and that they will be included in future city wide arts events and made welcome. One need not be culturally outside when one is a visionary, outsider artist.

Description: The "Outsider" or "Visionary" artist is defined as generally self taught, executing artworks that express visions or ideas that often use techniques and materials and genres that are outside of the mainstream. In addition in stark contrast to artists such as those now working in studios in the Bromo Seltzer Tower who tend to represent themselves as for example: Artist Inc. visionary artcar artists do little at all to make money (their obsessive visionary behavior more often accumulates debt). Artcar artists in addition to supplying their own materials must keep a car running and filled with gas. Yet, neither AVAM nor Artscape provide any funding at all for local artcar artists. Yet participation in city events brands the artcar artist in the eyes of the public, draws thousands to the festival and generally provides free entertainment while at the same time other entertainers are paid. Unlike other artists artcar artists generally stay at the festival full time. It is not as with other artists represented there who come in, hang an artwork on the walls (which they are actually offering for sale) and leave.

For more than a decade Visionary Artists such as Conrad Bladey have been included in prominent City events. Their art is very popular with the public at large. Appearances by Artcar artists from the "outside" have ranged from Artscape to the Charles Village Parade, Mayor's Christmas Parade, the Baltimore Book Fair and the harbor festival. While the art is visionary and "outsider" the artists are no different than other artists pursuing their own more conventional goals. Although the art has found a place in the hearts of the public the artists like Visionary Artcar Artist Conrad Bladey remain culturally isolated and do not yet have a place within the loop of the local arts community. These artists are not included in calls for participants and artworks such as Baltimore Festival of Maps which involved many arts organizations and artists in the city of Baltimore. They were also left out of the popular Fish out of Water project a few years ago.

Visionary artcar artists have seen opening receptions for their installations disappear and out-of-town curators brought in to curate art car exhibits at Artscape. Yet because of minimal association visionary cartists have been "branded" by association with institutions such as the American Visionary Art Museum and Artscape. They are not so much supported by these institutions but used for publicity purposes- and to draw crowds. Each day cartist Conrad Bladey is told that he must have something to do with them when in fact, Artscape has only the most minimal of relationships providing only a parking spot, and the AVAM simply starts a parade.

Details:

The artcar for this project is the 1966 Pontiac Catalina now known as "Someday the Frogs will Inherit the Earth." The car is a wetlands inspired Jackson Pollack painting inhabited by frogs with a large trombone horn on the hood which plays. A soundtrack reflecting on outsider existence will be playing from the car. The car will be surrounded by a 5 foot or more wide bright florescent orange and red fabric fence supported by poles set in cinder blocks.. Signs at the entrance will instruct the visitor participant to think of the present day culture of the Outsider artist. Visitors will be instructed to leave an item of clothing, hat shoe or belonging at the door just as the visionary/outsider must leave cultural belonging and personal inclusion outside when they practice outsider and visionary art.

There is a web page for the fabric which was used to wrap a house here

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/envorn/thewrap08.html

A web page for the car is here. http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/artcars/partycar/partycar.html

Hornhats at Artscape 2008

2008-06-05T15:19:00.001-04:00

Press Release June 4, 2008

Topic: The Horn Hat- Bringing Artcars into Sound at Artscape

Date: July 18-20

Place: Artscape, Baltimore

Contact: Conrad Bladey, 510-789-0930 cbladey@verizon.net

Summary: In addition to being a Visionary Artcar Artist or "Cartist" Conrad Bladey has also invented the Horn hat which is a Zany Wacky yet functioning musical instrument. As he dresses to match his vehicles Conrad Bladey also creates horn hats to play wonderful brass music which can be heard for blocks. The hats have many subjects: A boring weekend at his mother-in-laws house prompted Conrad to construct a hornhat of pistachio nuts. Another to go with the Mondrian car has a fabric cover with blocks of color, another looks like something out of the middle ages. Wherever they go people are amazed. Bladey has conducted workshops in the Horn Hat and has equipped entire bands with his creations. You wear them on your head and play them just like ordinary brass instruments. It leaves your hand free and transforms your head into art.

Conrad has created two new Horn hats for Artscape 2008- The Frog Horn Hat and the Volcano Horn hat. The Frog hat goes with his car- "Someday the frogs will inherit the Earth" and features a trumpet with frogs in a swamp. The second hat is designed to go with his Art Gurney and has a brass trombone bell sticking right out of the center of the hat. It appears to be coming from an erupting volcano. You can meet the horn hats at the Hutman Artcars studio in Linthicum or see them on Bladey's head as he struts and plays at Artscape.

If enough children are interested Conrad will equip them all with horn hats and create a parade of budding brass players. Workshops are available. constructing and learning to play a hornhat is a great way for children to have fun while exploring music.

The Hornhat Page has a video and many images of the current hornhat gallery:

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/artcars/hornhat/hornhatman.html

Finally the rest of the Hornhats!

2008-06-05T15:15:00.002-04:00

Mondrian Color block hat

Pistacio Shell Hat

Renaissance Turban Hat

The Frog Horn Hat

2008-06-04T19:07:00.003-04:00

The horn hat goes with the artcar..."Someday the Frogs will inherit the earth!

Volcano Horn Hat nears completion....a test drive...

2008-06-03T19:40:00.004-04:00

At the studio in front of leg gate...needs a bit more paint but on its way...volcano hat..

Stay tune.....more to come...

The Horn Hatter at Work

2008-06-03T17:55:00.008-04:00

At work making what is now the volcano hornhat~!

The Horn hatter plays to tune the horn

Take a leuk at the base- a helmet liner-it is covered with foam in stages

Another sound check- gradually shortening the hose till the right harmonic is achieved

Charles Village Festival Baltimorfe May 31, 08

2008-05-31T18:45:00.010-04:00

There I am trying out John's Paradise Gourney

The Patient...

New car this year....

Karl's Car from Delaware

Another view of the new local car

Local used book seller

Margaret Prepares the Gourney

New Sculpture for the Art Environment

2008-05-18T19:41:00.002-04:00

Cubist Man created from a piano plate-our latest addition to the environment.

Mayday 2008 Linthicum

2008-05-18T17:44:00.002-04:00

Wurtzelmann! our Jack in the Green! Sunrise, May 1 2008

Celebration of New Sidewalks....chalk art day

2008-04-21T07:05:00.003-04:00

And a Grand time Was has by all.....

Before the Wrap

2008-03-07T17:50:00.002-05:00

Click here to view the wrap web page
http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/envorn/thewrap08.html

Because it wasn't there....yet...

"Christo" Bladey Wraps house!

2008-03-07T17:46:00.002-05:00

Yes indeed! Briliant orange!

take a leuk....

Tales of my death greatly exagerated

2007-07-30T12:11:00.000-04:00

Stopped everywhere because of this......

2007-07-16T07:53:00.001-04:00

Art=Madness- Not!
This is the headline of the Examiner Newspaper of Baltimore the Weekend before Artscape.
We have reacted with the press release below with the hope that the public can come to a better undersanding of our work.

Date:Sunday July 15, 2007

From: Conrad Bladey, Visionary, Cartist

Topic: Escaping the Categorization of Artists as Madmen and Women

Description: Yesterday whilst attending to a brutal murder investigation next door…..a policeman gave me a copy of The Examiner, Baltimore, Weekend Edition, July 14-15. On the front page there was this image:

The headline reads: Artlife- An Escape into Madness

The photo is of my arttruck Magnet Truck

I have spent my entire career as a cartist projecting the image that cartists can be ordinary people and that artcars should be in every driveway replacing cars which are the products of the assembly line. Americans and everyone should feel free to engage in art in their daily lives and utilize artcars as canvases.

The Examiner front page gives us a reflection of the state of the arts in our society. No wonder when portrayed in this light, art programs in schools are cut, grants are reduced and hard to get and art of all kinds seems distant to the people.

This article should give us all cause to examine the way art is projected in the media. I am taking the time this week to give media representative's calm, cool, collected time to investigate the process of creating artcars at my studio in Linthicum. I will make my cars, studio and work in progress available to all who are interested from Monday July 16 to Thursday July 19. It is hoped that representatives of the local media will take advantage of this opportunity to escape the chaos of the moment at Artscape and compose an accurate picture of the cartists, the artworks and the process. Visitors can view work in progress..

Both my daughter Margaret (Stella the Star Car) and myself will be available. Make an appointment to stop in:Phone-410-789-0930 or e.mail cbladey@bcpl.net

The studio is conveniently located at 402 Nancy Ave. Linthicum, Md. 21090. We are only a few blocks from the North Linthicum, Light rail stop.

As for my characterization by the Examiner as "mad" That is fine with me! But, at this time nobody knows for sure.

Conrad Bladey

Merry Christmas to one and all!

2006-12-23T14:49:00.000-05:00

View our Christmas card here:

http://www.geocities.com/joecartist/xmmas06b.html

2006-11-13T19:55:00.000-05:00

The Peasant and Luther.

2006-11-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

In the Lutherest hall

2006-11-13T19:53:00.000-05:00

The peasant goes to Lutherfest! Spaten time!

2006-10-01T10:36:00.000-04:00

Image from the silver spring voice of september 2006 taken at the Magical Montomery festival of 2005-

2006-09-23T13:13:00.000-04:00

Jonh's memorial almost done some beard painting and snipping but almost there.

2006-09-23T13:12:00.000-04:00

Of course two right hands and two right feet....halloween stores are right only....would not want to be wrong after all....

2006-09-23T13:10:00.000-04:00

John's Memorial!- Beard needs some work still and he needs to be propped up but beard is still drying! Almost done!

2006-09-20T08:27:00.000-04:00

2006-09-18T11:56:00.000-04:00

Hot red and orange on top riding on a bed of clouds below....

2006-09-18T11:54:00.000-04:00

A great ride.....

2006-09-18T11:53:00.000-04:00

Would not have been complete without a fully functional battery reloadable billy bass glued on the front....don't worry be happy!

2006-09-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

Worthy of a Pharaoh!

2006-09-18T10:11:00.000-04:00

The Art gurney- Memorial to the late great and wonderful John Schroeter taking shape- it will of course have a Billy bass on it as well as bells...horns....buttons.....and a mannequin represinting John a fitting memorial to the king of wacky Stay tuned more ahead!

2006-09-17T13:44:00.000-04:00

Just think how much time I will save in an emergency! They can have me wheeled out and strapped in ready to go when they get here!

2006-09-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

No thats all right I think I am better now...

2006-07-12T17:24:00.000-04:00

celebrating the glorious 12th 2006 two...

2006-07-12T17:22:00.000-04:00

Celebrating the Glorious 12th 2006

2006-07-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

the fleet awaits photos and Mr. Smith

2006-07-04T16:28:00.000-04:00

at berthas fells point

2006-07-04T16:26:00.000-04:00

walking in fells point

2006-07-04T16:25:00.000-04:00

father and daughter....

2006-07-04T16:24:00.000-04:00

me and handy again

2006-07-04T16:23:00.000-04:00

horn hatter in paradise

2006-07-04T16:22:00.000-04:00

serious

2006-07-04T16:21:00.000-04:00

just trying to get a head....

2006-07-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

Enough-great protest shot...

2006-07-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

another handy portrait

2006-07-04T16:17:00.000-04:00

Me and my handy car

2006-07-04T16:14:00.000-04:00

partycar guy

2006-07-04T16:12:00.000-04:00

horn hatter again

2006-07-04T16:11:00.000-04:00

horn hatter...

2006-07-04T16:09:00.000-04:00

gerry garcia? you tell me...

2006-07-04T16:08:00.000-04:00

another portrait

2006-07-04T14:12:00.000-04:00

a contemplative bar portrait....by mr smith

2006-07-04T14:11:00.000-04:00

at the bar-cats eye by mr smith

2006-04-27T19:56:00.000-04:00

This is part two of a two part series of photos taken by a student at the Army Photo Journalism school- Curt Cashoar-great photographer. I highly recommend him to anyone interested in having photos done. He is re-locating to Fort Hood Texas soon...so you texas artcar folk....just what you need-This one...me and handy....note these are also good St. Arnold's beer adds.....best beer in Texas....Enjoy!

2006-04-27T19:52:00.000-04:00

Drink St. Arnolds beer and go slit eyed....ccphoto not actually staring into the sun at all!

2006-04-27T19:50:00.000-04:00

St.Arnolds beer add....ccphoto

2006-04-27T19:48:00.000-04:00

driving handy ccphoto

2006-04-27T19:47:00.000-04:00

using goop makes your hands big...ccphoto

2006-04-27T19:46:00.000-04:00

Driving handy car...ccphoto

2006-04-27T19:44:00.000-04:00

painting door....ccphoto

2006-04-27T19:42:00.000-04:00

the doll killing fields...ccphoto

2006-04-27T19:41:00.000-04:00

Doll harvest arrives at the killing fields...CCphoto

2006-04-27T17:25:00.000-04:00

This is the first part of a series of photos taken by Curt Cashoar who is presently studying at the Army School of Photo Journalism at fort Meade. This is Handria....

2006-04-27T17:23:00.000-04:00

handycar steering wheel