Outsider art, art by an untrained artist, has a charm all its own. For Jan Petry and Angie Mills, it is the childlike, naive quality of the objects that holds so much appeal.
“We like living with art done by ordinary people–people who had a need to express themselves,” says Petry, a sculptor, retired associate creative director with Leo Burnett and current exhibit director for Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. (David Syrek, one of this magazine’s art directors, also serves on Intuit’s board.) “There’s an inner passion about that.”
Avid collectors since 1980, Petry and Mills made their Lincoln Park apartment a collection of collections, says Mills, a retired interior designer. They began collecting antiques, but soon became interested in folk art. Then, in 1982, they attended a show called “Black Folk Art in America” in Louisville and were exposed to a group of artists who inspired them to begin collecting outsider art.
Early purchases included a 7-foot-tall Uncle Sam and 19th and early 20th Century whirligigs. Over the years they’ve acquired boats, small figures, canes, boxes, paintings, a wooden Indian, folding chairs, toys and more.
Wishing to make their art the focal point of their home, Petry and Mills chose modern, classic furniture designed during the 1940s and 1950s. “We thought these very simple, sculptural forms would make a wonderful contrast to the character, texture and often obsessive detail of the art,” says Petry.
In the living room, a Tibetan rug anchors a circular arrangement. Two “Swan” chairs by Arne Jacobsen are covered in black leather. The raspberry red couch is a reproduction of the “Cloud” sofa by Vladimir Kagan. Two white fiberglass “Pastille” chairs by Scandinavian designer Eero Aarnio complete the seating. Against the wall is a replica of a Noguchi dining table and four “Seven” chairs by Arne Jacobsen.
“As a group, the furniture holds together and the art does too because it has a different quality,” notes Petry. “It doesn’t compete.”
Art is displayed around the perimeter of the room. The Indian and the Uncle Sam intermingle with a group of 24 American and Native American canes. Nearby is a painted wooden boat found in a garage in Maryland. Numerous small figures sit on chests and shelves. Walls are hung with paintings, drawings and watercolors.
A sunny alcove showcases an interesting combination of pieces. Here, Petry and Mills placed a stunning animal figure from Africa made of brass hammered over wood atop a gray pedestal. They surrounded it with an athletic figure, a folding chair, a blue heron decoy, another folding chair, a Penobscot carved wooden club, a figure of a woman, a vine from New Guinea and two early 20th Century carved figures.
Petry’s bedroom is filled with painted tintypes, advertising tins, calipers and dividers, Native American and early American rattles, Kellogg’s ads, advertising items and more. A Marcel Breuer plywood lounge and an Alvar Aalto chair accent the mix.
“We’re surrounded by things we love,” says Petry.
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This page: Dining room: Replica of Isamu Noguchi table–Modernica, Chicago; “Seven” chairs by Arne Jacobsen–Knoll International, Merchandise Mart; untitled drawing by Martin Ramirez–Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York.
Pp. 36-37: Living room (from left): White “Pastille” chairs by Eero Aarnio–personal collection; “Fedral [sic] Hill” boat by unknown carver–personal collection; untitled drawing by Bill Traylor–Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago; replica of “Cloud” sofa by Vladimir Kagan–Modernica, Chicago; carved wood figure titled “Wrestler” by unknown carver, Walters-Benisek, Northampton, Mass.; 19th Century blue heron decoy and 19th Century folding chair by Hosea Hayden–personal collection; Lion from Benin–Douglas Dawson Gallery, Chicago; 19th Century Penobscot club–Ted Trotta, Shrub Oak, N.Y.; carved wood figure titled “Gerencser Girl” by Louis Gerencser–Carl Hammer Gallery; vine from New Guinea–Douglas Dawson Gallery, Chicago; untitled figure by John Bennett–Carl Hammer Gallery; untitled figure by George Williams–Carl Hammer Gallery; “Swan” chairs by Arne Jacobsen–Modern Times, Chicago; Kwang chest–Golden Triangle, Chicago; on chest: carved figure titled “Jack Johnson” by unknown carver–Carl Hammer Gallery; untitled leather figure by unknown artist–Steve Miller, New York; untitled head by S.L. Jones–Carl Hammer Gallery; 19th Century cat by June Lambert, Washington, D.C.; early 20th Century owl by unknown carver–personal collection; dog by unknown carver–Patricia Anne Reed, Damariscotta, Maine; above chest: untitled watercolor by Charles A.A. Dellschau–Ricco-Maresca Gallery, New York; “Mt. Dhan Ingiri” and “Julien Alps,” both by Joseph Yoakum–Carl Hammer Gallery; “Tree of Life” by Drossos Skyllas–Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York; spool high chair by unknown maker–Harvey Antiques, Evanston; egg stool (center of room)–Luminaire, Chicago; on bookshelves: untitled painted tin and untitled boat, both by unknown artists–personal collection.
Pg. 38: Detail of living room and entry: “Budded Rod” by unknown carver–Walters-Benisek, Northampton, Mass.; carved Native American sculpture by unknown artist–Harvey Antiques, Evanston; painting of ship titled “J.P. Bodewell” by William Stubbs–Kaja Veilleux, New Castle, Maine; American and Native American walking sticks–personal collection; art on entry wall titled “Mapa Ed Veneis XI” by Genevieve Seille–Louise Ross Gallery, New York; on shelf from left: carved box titled “Night Train Express” and carved box titled “My Little Sweetheart,” both by H.C. Westermann–Lennon-Weinberg Gallery, New York; painted wood head by Calvin Black,captain’s desk on floor, blue chest-of-drawers, wood “Decoy” by Jan Petry, and Shaker smalls and Native American moccasins–personal collection.
Pg. 39: Petry’s bedroom: Bent plywood chaise longue by Marcel Breuer–John Toomey Gallery, Oak Park; antique calipers, dividers and advertising tins–personal collection.
