Object Details
Artist
Miles Burkholder Carpenter, born Brownstown, PA 1889-died Petersburg, VA 1985
Luce Center Label
Monkey Dog is one of the many animals, both real and imagined, that Miles Carpenter carved out of wood. Along with his “root monsters” and watermelon slices, the monkey dogs are some of the most popular (Lynda Hartigan, Made with Passion, 1990). Carpenter enjoyed adding humor to his figures and admitted that sometimes he created ugly animals and did not know what they were. (Jann Malone, “He Manufactures Monsters,” Richmond Times Dispatch, October 6, 1974)
Luce Object Quote
“If I can make something look funny and ugly, I’m delighted. I just love to watch people look at my stuff and see the pleasure they get from it. The funny looking things---they take to it better.” Miles Carpenter, quoted in James L. Mathis, “Art for Folks,” VCU Magazine, May 1974
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Date
1967
Object number
1986.65.236
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Sculpture
Folk Art
Medium
painted and carved tree limbs, metal screw and tacks, fabric, and ribbon
Dimensions
11 1/4 x 7 1/8 x 14 1/4 in. (28.6 x 18.1 x 36.2 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Animal\monkey
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1986.65.236