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THBMary Proctor "Grandma Use To Tell Us A Story ..." 1999
About Seller
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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About Auction
LiveMar 20, 2025
Explore a world of classical antiquities and ethnographic masterpieces, with treasures from every corner of the globe. Discover Egyptian relics, Greek and Roman artifacts, Etruscan elegance, Near Eastern wonders, and Asian heritage. Marvel at Pre-Columbian marvels, Native American artistry, African tribal expressions, and Oceanic cultural gems. Spanish Colonial legacies, Russian craftsmanship, and a spectrum of fine and visual arts await, offering a captivating journey through history and artistry, connecting cultures across time. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com
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- Lot Description
Missionary Mary L. Proctor (American, b. 1960). Mixed media painting on a door, 1999. Signed and dated at lower left. After losing her grandmother, her aunt, and her uncle to a house fire, Mary Proctor had a vision and heard a voice that directed her to "paint the door." This painted door features a story told to Mary by her grandmother. The text above the image reads, "GRANDMA USE TO TELL US A STORY WHILE MILKING HER OLD COW. SHE SAID GOD WAS FULL OF MIRACLES. ONE SHE TALKED ABOUT WHILE MILKING HER OLD COW. IT WAS AMAZING HOW GOD MADE A BLACK COW AND HE GIVE US WHITE MILK." The painting below features grandma milking the black cow, a child (perhaps Mary) about to embrace the cow, and another woman (perhaps her aunt) at the rear of the cow all against a heavenly vision with dozens of angels accompanying the text, "GOD HE CREATED THE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE STARS, SUN, THE MOON, FISH, OCEAN SEA, MAN, WOMAN, THE BABIES, FOOD, GRANDMA, ANIMALS OF ALL KIND, FORGIVING, GRANDPA, LOVING, PEACE, HOPE, KIND, LOVE, GRACE..." In addition to her signature vibrant color palette, Ms. Proctor incorporated countless found objects (i.e. pieces of colorful fabric, remnants of ambiguous materials, skeins of glue etc.) in the composition to suggest the reassembling of broken pieces and the mending/grieving process. A mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind work by folk/outsider artist Mary L. Proctor who refers to herself as Missionary Mary Proctor and uses her art to deliver her message. Size: 69.25" L x 36" W (175.9 cm x 91.4 cm)
About the Artist: Born in Florida, Mary L. Proctor was raised by her maternal grandparents. Sadly, in the mid 1990s, Mary lost several family members in a fire. Following this tragedy, Mary had a vision in which the Lord appeared and commanded her to "paint the door." Thus commenced her pursuit of painting. Ms. Proctor considers herself to be a missionary and uses her art to deliver her messages and lessons. Her paintings usually feature members of her family or her own personal experiences, as well as a message. In addition to paint, she also includes found objects in her works.
Proctor's work is held in permanent collections: The American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland; Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, North Carolina; Gadsden Arts Center & Museum, Quincy, Florida; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando, Florida; Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, Florida; Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida; Morris Museum of Art, Augusta Georgia; Smithsonian Institution Anacostia Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York; New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana; Center for African American History and Culture, Washington, DC; and California African American Museum, Los Angeles, California. She has had at least 12 solo museum exhibition, and her work has been shown in over 40 group exhibitions including the Smithsonian Institution Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, Washington D.C. and the American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland as well as the 2016 Atlanta Biennial at the Atlanta Contemporary and "History Refused to Die: Highlights from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation Gift" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2018. Among Proctor's honors are a Folk Art Society Award of Distinction from the Folk Art Society of America.
Of Note: On the verso of this painting is an inscription that reads: "To Anne, With Love / You are so special and / GOD is going to continue / Bless you. You are very / very special and take care of the kids / Remember your / Reward is in Heaven / and we will bless each other / There for our over walk …. Mary L. Proctor 8-22-99"
Provenance: private Rochester, Minnesota, USA collection, acquired from 1990 -1998
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#192636Condition
Signed and dated at lower left. A few losses to high-pointed areas of the cow and a few chips/losses to peripheries of the painting. The suspension wire on verso is not strong enough to display this piece; we recommend replacing it with something stronger. Otherwise an incredibly unique piece with vivid imagery, text, and hues.
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