Soddies

Another "I gotcher art raht hyar" posts. These are commonly called "Soddies."  These are a sort of bas relief semi-commercial folk art produced by a Mennonite lady from Montezuma KS - Leah Johnson. This particular collection is called a "Small Four Seasons," because she produced them in various sizes. As you can see, the four smaller plaques represent the seasons of the year with varying scenes, all involving sod houses. They are actually made with sod - a special mix of mud for the three dimensional look. Her sons and grandsons cut and edge routed the plaques for her.

They are all dated '86 and signed "Leah Johnson." The last I heard - and this was quite a while back - she was physically unable to produce any more and was living in a rest home in Montezuma. Once again, a little googling can illuminate - I did not know this:

One Mennonite memory painter is Leah Johnson, a Holdeman Mennonite (Church of God in Christ, Mennonite) from Montezuma, KS, who since 1967 has painted sod houses set in various Kansas regional landscapes. She uses a self-developed, three-dimensional sand-painting technique that was revealed to her following the death of her husband when she was suddenly faced with earning her own living. She has also illustrated books with drawings of her favorite subjects, notably True Sod, written by Barbara Oringdeff(sp).

Barbara Oringderff is noted Kansas historian/author who publishes a Kansas history themed quarterly The Territorial.  True Sod is available at Amazon. According to the source above, an example of a memory painter:

Grandma Moses was a "memory painter"; that is, her scenes were naive, nostalgic renderings of a long-past era of American culture.

 Learn somethin' new ever' day! I didn't know that Mrs. Johnson had been making soddies since 1967, or that she had done illustrations and collaborated with Barbara Oringderff. I've been reading The Territorial for years. Aaaand, I did know that the Mennonites around here belong to the Holden branch. I'm not sure about Mrs. Johnson using sand for her soddies - it has always been said that she used plain ol' dirt - which is kinda sandy in the Montezuma area.

At any rate, I think I gave about eight bucks apiece for each of the plaques as a package deal and gave them to my Mother for Christmas. I've got a small one in my bathroom. My "extra mom" has a much larger plaque that her kids purchased for her as a group on display at her house. Ingalls Feed Yard used to (and may still - haven't been there in years) have a very large commissioned piece in their break room. Believe it or not, here in "red" flyover country, the cattle and grain barons support the arts.

You'll find Leah Johnson's soddies in plenty of discerning art lovin' homes here in southwester Kansas!