American Wild Life [Jo Sartz]

[Folk] [Art] [Book]

American Wild Life

Jo Sartz

Self constructed art piece. 1956. Wood back hardback book, spiral bound, with metal hinges. Affixed to the cover is a cut out of leather buffalo. Some pages are torn along the punch holes. 12000 words, loaded with hand drawn illustrations. Unique; one of a kind. 

I am happy to present this piece of lovely American folk art for sale. "American Wild Life" is a wood back book authored by a child, seemingly for a school project, that looks at "American Wild Life" through the eyes of a burgeoning conservationist. We move from mammals to fish to reptiles to amphibians to birds. Each section is accompanied with charming text, and phenomenally well done pen and ink illustrations.

Take this passage for example:

"Since most mammals are free from fear and prejudice, they are perhaps the most interesting, harmless, and lovable of all animals."

With the potent double whammy of:

"Although unwilling to be classified as one, man is the most advanced of mammals."

Or later, in a deep examination of the spadefoot toad:

"Throughout the Southwest the cries of these hermit toads are hard after a heavy rain. Wow, Wow, they call, like someone in pain."

And so on and so forth - endless descriptions of animals, researched through encyclopedia and book, typed on a type writer, and assembled by hand. Think about that for a moment - here is a piece of art that has transcended the digital. Unfiltered child-mind manifesting as artifact. 

One of the loveliest pieces I have had the pleasure to own, and now available to you.