Imagination and Vision Mark Folk Art

Question: In contrast to antiques and the more expensive variety of collectibles, how would you define folk art?--T.C.

Answer: One of the better definitions is contained in “Folk Art” by Robert Bishop, Judith Reiter Weissman, Michael McManus and Henry Niemann (Knopf, New York: $13.95):

“ ‘Folk art’ is today used as an umbrella term for numerous artistic forms and utilitarian objects in a wide variety of mediums and from every period of American history; it ranges from primitive paintings and sculpture to baskets, wooden kitchenware, factory-made weather vanes and even modern-day outdoor ‘junk sculpture’ . . . .

‘Art of the People’

“Folk art is the art of the people. Its creators, often anonymous or now forgotten, were either self-taught amateurs working for their own pleasure, or paid artisans and painters with varying degrees of training and skill . . . .

“When utilitarian objects such as painted tinware, ships’ figureheads, shop signs and household utensils have been made by craftsmen of imagination and aesthetic vision, they too are considered folk art . . . .

“Folk art is actually in the mainstream of American culture. Its appeal is often nostalgic--evoking images of a less troubled world--or highly decorative, with its bright colors, flattened perspective and simple arrangement of forms.

“But while much folk art is clearly derivative, it is often original and exciting, and as powerful as the finest academic art.”

A Texas record dealer, L. R. (Les) Docks, wrote us to say the market for 78-rpm records still is quite active, based on his latest mail auction of 1,300 collectible records. Docks says he’ll use the information from the auction, which closed July 19, for revision of his “American Premium Record Guide” (Books Americana Inc., Florence, Ala.).

Docks says he will answer record-collector questions if they’re sent with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to L. R. Docks, P.O. Box 32924, San Antonio, Tex. 78216.

Bookshelf

For collectors of radio memorabilia, Floyd A. Paul of Glendale writes that his “Radio Horn Speaker Encyclopedia” (paperback, 84 pages, $13.90, photographs) “is just off the press. It is 1921-to-1927-era material for antique radio buffs and people who remember the 1920s.”

The book, he says, contains a history of the companies that made the interestingly designed horn speakers--firms such as Magnavox, Victor Radio Corp., Temple, Timbretone and Utah Radio Products--and has more than 145 speaker photographs. The work also includes names of more than 300 manufacturers and lists trade names, he says.

Many Old Speakers

There must still be plenty of these old speakers sitting in dens as conversation pieces because, says Paul in his book, Magnavox alone produced 400,000 of them between 1920 and 1926.

The book can be ordered from Paul (1545 Raymond Ave., Glendale, Calif. 91201). The price includes shipping costs.

A new Olympics catalogue of collectibles is out, containing medals, pins, books, posters and other items. Interested readers should send $5 to Harvey Abrams Books, An den Hubertshausern 21, D-1000 Berlin 38, West Germany.

Ronald L. Soble cannot answer mail personally but will respond in this column to questions of general interest about collectibles. Do not telephone. Write to Your Collectibles, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.