Good thing we live in the country. I am free to exercise my
strange streak.
When leaving an estate sale this morning, I noticed a
head sitting on the porch. When I inquired of the price, a
man said I could have the head free of charge. They
even knew his name - Dick West.
It appears to be weather durable, so looks like he'll
live outdoors.
My kids think I'm very weird, but I love it!
Nothing wierd there. He looks like a very interesting person. Now when you get caught muttering in your garden, you can just tell them you were carrying on a conversation with Dick West.
Oh my gosh, Wuvie, When I was in high school long ago I sculpted a head really similar to Dick West. I need to find him in the storage room and put him in my garden. He will need a name, too. Never even thought of naming him but he wasn't anyone in particular when I did him. If I can find him I'll post a picture. No, it isn't the same head, mine has flatter ears :) and is uglier. SheVerne
Sounds like yours should be called Igor! LOL
That is really interesting Wuvie! Kind of horror film strange at the same time. LOL
Verne, too cool! I remember making a head, too, only mine was
much smaller, bald and painted half black, half white. I wonder if
he is in a landfill or sitting in someone's home thinking they have some
sort of antique. LOL
I sure like him. Perhaps he will live in the crook of a tree stump with ivy
growing out of his neck, or maybe on top of a flag post for the neighbors
to admire, bwahahahaha!
The head is inscribed with "N.F. HARRIS 11-67".
Wuvie,
I say this affectionately..........but.........that's WEIRD.
BWAAAAAHAAAAA!
That's really strange. And very kewl. In case you didn't know it, he was a real cowboy.
http://www.fpcc.net/~sgrimm/dick_west.htm
Hi Prairie,
I did some research when I first brought him home, but I'm not
positive this is the same guy. I even made a telephone call to a man by the same
name living in Oklahoma. The woman answering the phone stated she
didn't think this was her husband. The estate sale guy mentioned something
about an organization here in Oklahoma, though I can't quite remember what
he said. Eufala, maybe?
I'm waiting on a reply from the webmaster after I inquired if they knew
more about him, or had a photo of him.
The head's hair leads me to believe this is not the same gun-toting bank robbing guy.
I would think a rough and tough guy would have scraggly long hair as opposed
to the slicked back smooth and short cut of the statue, but heck, even criminals
can be Metrosexual. LOL.
Hmm.
Wuvie,
http://www.rootsweb.com/~oklawmen/outlaws/dick.htm
Photo of Dick West
Ha Ha Wuvie. I do think they had razors and such, even back then, but you're right, he doesn't look like the photo either. I'll keep watching this thread, I love a mystery!
edited to add another link:
http://eufaulachamberofcommerce.com/
This message was edited May 14, 2006 10:26 AM
I love mysteries. could this be this guy ?
http://tulsatvmemories.com/signoffs.html
Notice he is an artist, from the same state as you ?
Hi Kwetz,
Hmm, very interesting. I've emailed the news station to inquire.
Many thanks! Sounds promising!
Yeah, that looks like him!! How REALLY kewl. LOL
thats neat idea ,have a head sitting around i like weird..
I love it. Would you consider a gun slinging scarecrow?
2Vernes - Please find the head and start a thread (maybe under Garden Art) to name the head. We New Englanders need a diversion with all this rain!
Wuvie - I think it's esp. nice that you were given this piece of history for FREE. That video of Dick West signing is strangely beautiful. I hope you find out more. WoW! He's even in the Smithsonian. As we say here, good find.
Hmmnn..that could be worth some $$ to a collector. I'd find out more before letting the elements get at it?
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Indeed. After I began to research the matter, Dick came into the house and
is sitting near the lizards. They must wonder why this guy keeps staring at them.
:-)
Here's a a little more info about Dick West's son and a little bit about Dick.
http://www.law.stanford.edu/publications/lawyer/issues/70/blazingtrails.html
You seem to have come across a little bit of history, and this could be valuable or maybe his son might be interested in it.
Ken
Here's an older article that has more info on his Dad
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30313-2004Sep17.html
This message was edited May 17, 2006 11:37 AM
I'm having a good laugh at myself, he's not a cowboy at all, but a real Indian. When I'm wrong, I'm really wrong! ROFL
Yeah but this is really cool. The cowboy was the bad guy, and the Indian is a good guy!
Right, and an historic figure, teacher, artist, etc. I think I would be contacting the grandson who owns the museum right about now, LOL. If nothing else, it gave us all a grand history lesson. Maybe another artist could make a mold from your head, so that you could still put Dick West in your garden, where he belongs!
Wuvie, I can contact someone who knows Richard West if you want me to. Otherwise I'll keep quiet.
Ken
Hi Ken,
I've been trying various avenues to find this guy to no avail.
Any assistance you can provide would be super.
:-)
I'll send an email and see what response I get.
Ken
Wow.
I think an Indian can be a Cowboy, and a Cowboy an Indian, because there are Indians here who consider themselves Cowboys.
This guy needs a headdress or cowboy hat. He's pretty neat!
Wuvie, I sent you replies via Dmail.
For everyone else yes we do have a match.
Woohoo! Or maybe that's not politically correct...
I'm not sure how this will turn out, but I only wished to
confirm the head's identity. I don't want to get into
a squabble with anyone over ownership rights or
anything.
:-o
Well, Wuvie, it's yours. Possession is still 9/10ths of the law. If this family memeber wants to make you an offer, then you can pursue that if you like. Or you could bequeath it. *giggle* I'm sure it's intrinsic value is not that high, it's the history behind it, and the person it represents. I hope you got someone to burn you a copy of that video to go along with it. Maybe you could get someone to copy the head? Or did I already say that. Thanks for a wonderful thread, I've found it most interesting. You really never know where treasure will turn up. :0)
But that is the interesting thing. I didn't want the head because of it's
history or possible monetary value, heck...I didn't even know it's history when I inquired.
There is something terribly sad about an estate sale. All the things that
belonged to this lady, all her worldly possessions up for grabs for a quarter,
a dollar. When I saw through the window a pile of plaster, various things she
had made, her paints, etc. I was intrigued. Wow. I would have a piece of
something this lady made, and she is no longer with us. 1967. I was two years
old when this lady was sculpting the very head I would later acquire half
a dozen states and 39 years away.
I have a hand crocheted genuine rag rug from another sale. It was in the dirt
in the garage at an estate sale. All that work just laying in the mud. You could
tell this rug was made when things were waste not want not. You can see
the woman's apron fabric, the husband's shirts. It's really neat. Holey, worn
out, bleached, torn, crumbly. But I love it!
And yet as I collect memorabilia of those I didn't even know, one day my
own belongings will be sold for a clutch of quarters. I have antique crochet
patterns in a folder with specific instructions upon my death. Do not give
to Goodwill or sell in a yard sale. Find someone who actually has interest
in these things. I tremble to wonder who will end up with my Rosette Iron
collection.
Sigh.
Oh I know you didn't want it for the money, and I do have to agree estate sales can be a little creepy. Any relatives tend to hover, they usually just want to get on with other things. I have thought same things you have, best to not dwell on earthly matters, as we hopefully won't have another worry or care when that time comes. What is Rosette Iron? :0)
It's just too sad to think about crocheted pieces (by my mom) and photo albums, etc. being tossed. How much can any generation keep? Don't ask me because I still have the trunk my mother used in 1923, when she went to Bermuda, and an attic filled with memories.
The artist who made the head was talented.
The gypsy of the family is also the keeper of the stuff, oddly enough. That would be me. I've hauled around special clothes, needlepoint, dishes, all sorts of stuff for the generations after through many serious moves (NY-CO-CA-CO-AZ-WI-CA) I'm not sure why any more, and my back hurts. My family is not close. But some of the things I am still able to use remind me of important people, so that's good.
I think Dick belongs in a museum, though I like the idea of a head in the garden, keeping ahead of things....
(hey, watch where you throw things!)
Wuvie,
I love rosettes! (If we are thinking of the same thing) the crunchy batter pastry things? YUM. My G Grandmother wrote on the back of her pictures names of people she wanted them to go to. Of course it's sad when you leave it in writing and not legally...people just take what they want.
This thread is soooo fascinating. I look forward to the mystery man being solved!
