BIRDS BURL BRANCHES & BARK

STEVEN S. POWERS & JOSHUA LOWENFELS
BIRDS BURL BRANCHES & BARK
a collection of paintings, folk art and sculpture from the 19th-21st centuries

STEVEN S. POWERS & JOSHUA LOWENFELS
BIRDS BURL BRANCHES & BARK
a collection of paintings, folk art and sculpture from the 19th-21st centuries
BIRDS BURL BRANCHES & BARK presents the divergent and overlapping interests and aesthetics
of Steven S. Powers and Joshua Lowenfels around the loose premise of flora and flying fauna.
Powers’ aesthetic flirts with the traditional, however walks the line of the unexpected and unorthodox,
while Lowenfels is well established in the unpredictable, incidental and surprisingly sublime.
Though each presents their own interpretation of the theme—incidental Venn diagram-like overlaps
occur. For example, Powers offers a carved granite mother bird with covey by African-American artist
James W. Washington, Jr. and Lowenfels counters with nineteenth-century salt and pepper molds in
the form of a pair of bird’s eggs with human babies hatching from within. Another is Lowenfels’
unanticipated lid from a tar bucket, with its ground colored a most beautiful vermillion with random
dabs of tar upon it—it is a mandala. Powers pairs this with a naive painting by George E. Morgan
entitled, Bird of Paradise—its tail feathers echoing the color and metaphysical suggestion of the tar
lid.
Powers and Lowenfels will present these and other works at Metro Curates, January 22-25, 2015,
125 West 18th ST, New York, NY 10011.
For more information: Steven S. Powers Joshua Lowenfels
stevenspowers.com
joshualowenfels.com
steve@stevenspowers.com joshlowenfels@aol.com
718-625-1715 / 917-518-0809 212-362-2032 / 914-715-1061

New England Bat House
Circa: 1880
Size: 16 5/8" (h) x 12 1/2" (w) x 4 3/8" (d)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Emile Branchard (New York, 1881-1938)
Untitled Trees (Connecticut)
Oil on artist board
Circa: 1925
Size: 11 1/2" (w) x 15" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Steven Powers (1968-)
Maine: Stonington Woods
Oil on panel
Dated: 2014
Size: 8 3/4" (w) x 11 3/4" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

The Cycle of Life
Small bicycle of tubular steel, rubber wheels,
frozen within the growth of a tree’s trunk.
Midwestern United States
Circa: 2nd half of the 20thC
Size: 45" (h) x 48" (w)
A specimen now desiccated in display
'twas in life that the two had met in some way
A child’s bicycle held to a fair degree
'twas in life having been absorbed by a tree
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

James W. Washington, Jr. (American 1909-2000)
Bird Family
Dated: 1973
Size: 12 1/4" (l) x 8 1/8" (d) x 7 1/2" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Egg Cups
Molded Plaster of Paris
Connecticut
Circa: Late 19thC
Size: 5 1/2" (h) x 2" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Steven Powers (1968-)
First Blossoms
Oil on panel
Dated: 2014
Size: 8 3/4" (h) x 11 3/4" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
John Bisbee (1965-)
Thicket (detail)
Forged and welded spikes, archival lacquer
Circa: 2014
Size: 32" (h) x 28" (w) x 14 (d)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Lumber Baron
A flat panel of prepared oak painted
with a portrait in oil, surrounded by
deep carving that mimics the bark
of a tree.
Circa: 1890
Size: 27-1/4" (h) x 15-1/2" (w)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

James W. Washington, Jr.
(American 1909-2000)
HUNGRY GULL
Dated: 1977
Size: 7 3/8" (w) x 5 5/8" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
Bark Niche Tableau
Assemblage—cedar chips on shelved box
construction, taxidermy with
metal leash, held by costume hand.
Circa: 20thC
Size: 23" (h) x 18" (w) x 12" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

(far left) Stephen Brown (1950-2009)
Tree II (Weeping Cherry)
Oil on paper mounted on panel
Circa: 2008-2009
Size: 14 7/8" (h) x 6 1/2" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
(left) Important African American Folk Art
Carved Cane
Carved wood, glass eyes, metal turtle fetish
Dated: 1881
Size: 36" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
(right) Stephen Brown (1950-2009)
Tree I (Weeping Cherry)
Oil on paper mounted on panel
Circa: 2008-2009
Size: 11 1/2" (h) x 5 1/2" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Sponge Bobbin
A rubber and glass scuba mask overgrown
in sea sponge, oddly taking on the
image of the mask’s wearer.
Key West, Florida
Circa: 1st half 20thC
13-1/2" (h) 8" x (w) x 6" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels
Food for Thought
A pouch of sewn rawhide pillowed with
petrified cheese
New York State
Circa: late 18thC / early 19thC
Size: 15 1/2" (h) x 10" (w) x 8" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Eskimo Vest
Colored thread, glass bead embroidery, wool backed cotton, seal skin.
The face in the center goes by the name of Billiken, "God of things as they
ought to be.”
Seattle, Washington
Circa: 1909
Size: 22" (h) x 16" (w) x 9" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898-1995)
Giant Oak Tree
Silver Gelatin Print
Martha's Vineyard, North Tisbury, MA
Circa: 1968
Size: 7" (w) x 9" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Steven Powers (1968-)
Untitled Tree: Oak
Oil on panel
Dated: 2014
Size: 8 3/4" (h) x 11 3/4" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Steven Powers (1968-)
Maine: Acadian Oaks
Oil on panel
Dated: 2014
Size: 11 3/4" (h) x 15 3/4" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Folk Art Phallic Cane
Varnished wood and bark outer with areas of
subtle carving
Eastern United States
Circa: 1890 -1910
Size: 35" H x 5 - 1/4" W
Provenance: Herbert Hemphill collection
Literature: Folk Erotica, Milton Simpson
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels
Knockers
Brass
Circa: 1900
Size: 5" (d) x 4" (h)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Paperweight Beauties
Manipulated clear and
colored glass
Massachusetts
Circa: 1933
Size: 3-1/2" (h) x 2-3/4" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels
Widow’s Comforter
Wood, pigment
Kent County, Maryland
Circa: 1800
Size: 7 1/2" (l) x 2 1/2" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Anonymous
Ribbon Clouds
Oil on artist board
Circa: 1890
Size: 6" (h) x 8" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
James W. Washington, Jr. (American 1909-2000)
Hawaiian Ai-Laiki = Ricebird
Dated: 1974
Size: 7 1/2" (l) x 4 1/2" (d) x 7" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Stephen Brown (1950-2009)
Ball of Twine
Oil on paper mounted on panel
Circa: 2006
Size: 4 3/4" (w) x 5 1/8" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

John Bisbee (1965-)
Bristle Ball (small)
Welded nails
Circa: 1999-2000
Size: 6" (diameter)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

W. Conway
Meathead
Oil on canvas
Circa: 1890
Size: 20" (w) x 14" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Fraternal Mask of the Lamb
Molded paper composition covered in mohair yarn.
New York State
Circa: 1880 – 1900
Size: 7-1/2" (h) x 10-1/4" (w) x 11-1/2" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Steven Powers (1968-)
Untitled Tree: Sycamore
Oil on panel
Dated: 2014
Size: 8 3/4" (h) x 11 3/4” (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
Painter’s Pail
A yellow woodenware bucket, encrusted
with red paint
New York State
Circa: 19th century
Size: 14" (h) x 12-1/2" (w) x 13-1/2" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Camp Happy Hour
Hand-colored vintage silver print
New York State
Circa: 1920
Size: 17" (h) x 23" (w) x 1-1/4" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels
Bird House
Hollowed-out log
Circa: 1900
Size: 54" (l) x 15" (w) x 24" (h)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Gretchen Treitz (1952-)
Study for In The Shadows
Watercolor, white gold leaf on paper
Dated: 2014
Size: 8" (h) x 10" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Homer Gunn
Bird’s Nest
Copper and bronze
Circa: 1960
Size: 11" (d) x 7 1/2" (h)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels
Oaxacan Wolf Mask
Wood
Circa: 1900
Size: 14" (h) x 8 1/2" (w)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Grey Glyph Stone
Pewter
Circa: Mid 20thC
Size: 5 3/4" (l) x 3 1/2" (w) x 1" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Carved Stone Book
Stone
Circa: Late 19thC
Size: 4 1/2" (h) x 3" (w) x 3/4" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Eastern Great Lakes Beaver Effigy Ladle
Circa: 1780
Size: 9 1/8" (h)
Provenance: Andy Warhol Collection, Sotheby's, New York, 1988.
Pictured and discussed in North American Burl Treen, p. 165
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
A Small Medicine Ladle with Reductive Manitou or Abstract Quahog Shell
Circa: 1780
Size: 4 1/4" (h)
Pictured and discussed in North American Burl Treen, p. 166
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Exceptional Northeastern Ash Burl Bowl with Beehive Turnings
Circa: 1760-1780
Size: 12" (d) x 6 1/2" (h)
Pictured and discussed in North American Burl Treen, page 42.
Provenance: DeVere Card
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Water Pipe
Lathe-turned log with male and female
ends, wrapped in iron coil,
covered in pitch
Binghamton, NY
Circa: 1800-1840
Size: 73" (h) x 6" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels
(right) Mechanical Mirrored Ball
Mirror set into hollow faceted form of
blackened wood and plaster atop a
clockwork can. Attached to wood base,
curving iron struts support vertical
rotation
Circa: 1900-1940
Size: 29 3/4" (h) x 18" (w) x 15" (d)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

(left) George E. Morgan (Maine, 1870-1969)
Bird of Paradise
Oil on artist board
Circa: 1964
Size: 9" (w) x 12" (h)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers
(above) The Shape of Chance and Happenstance
Weathered transformation of a tarred and
painted steel tar lid
Circa: 1930-50
Size: 18" (diameter)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Folk Art Carved Policeman Whirligig
with Tin Sleeves
Circa: 1880
Size: 18 1/8" (h) x 10" (w)
Provenance: Joseph Mortinson;
Kennedy Galleries; Raymond Saroff
/ Howard Rose Collection.
Literature & Exhibitions:
Unexpected Eloquence, The Edith
Blum Art Institute, Bard
College, Annandale-on-Hudson,
1990, by Howard Rose published to
coincide with the exhibit, “The Fine
Art of American Folk,” The Edith C.
Blum Institute, Bard College, 1990.
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

Nebraskan Reliquary
Portrait photograph and caged
fragments on soldered metal plaque
with wrought-in text documenting
the burning of a church by a lodge
called the Free-thinkers.
Nebraska
Circa: Late 19thC
Size: 28 1/4" (h) x 9 1/2" (w) x 2 3/8”
Text:
ERNEST GRESSING, THIS IS THE CAR-
PENTER THAT BUILT THE CHURCH IN
THE SOUTH WEST CORNER SECT 31 IN
1889.
THIS BROKEN BRICK AND BURNED
GLASS IS FROM THE S T. MATTHAI
LUTHERAN
CHURCH THAT WAS BUILT IN THE
SOUTH WEST CORNER SECTION 29.
WISNER TOWNSHIP CUMING COUNTY
NEBRASKA IN 1886.
AND BURNED BY "THE FREIDENKERS"
THE NIGHT BEFORE IT WAS TO BE
DEDICATED.
THREE MEN ON HORSEBACK TUTCH
HER OFF AND WENT WEST ALL THE
HORSES CAN BRING.
WAS SEEN BY A LADY ON
THE S.W. Q SECTION 30. WISNER
TOWNSHIP ABOUT 11.P. M.
MEN FROM 1 . OR 1000.
LODGES CALLED THEM SELF
FREIDENKERS. THE CHURCH IN
THE S.W. CORNER SECTION 31.
WAS GARDED FOR 2 . WEEKS WITH A
CROSS BARREL. 1889
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

Elmer Youmans (Harrisburg, PA)
Archaeopteryx: The Earliest Known Bird
Oil on board
Circa: 1966
Size: 37" (h) x 27" (w)
courtesy of Joshua Lowenfels

John Bisbee (1965-)
Mane
Welded nails
Dated: December 2013
Size: 15 1/2" (h) x 7" (w) x 4" (d)
courtesy of Steven S. Powers

STEVEN S. POWERS & JOSHUA LOWENFELS
STEVEN S. POWERS
stevenspowers.com
steve@stevenspowers.com
718-625-1715 / 917-518-0809
JOSHUA LOWENFELS
joshualowenfels.com
joshlowenfels@aol.com
212-362-2032 / 914-715-1061
SHOW LOCATION
THE METROPOLITAN PAVILION
125 W 18TH ST. (BTW 6TH/7TH AVES)
NEW YORK, NY 10011
O GALA PREVIEW O
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 | 6 PM—9 PM
SHOW DATES AND HOURS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 | 11 AM–7 PM
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 | 11 AM–7 PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 | 11 AM–7 PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 | 12 PM–5:30 PM
BIRDS BURL BRANCHES & BARK
a collection of paintings, folk art and sculpture from the 19th-21st centuries