Ed Gulley is an Artist and a Dairy Farmer. In between milking and all the other demands of Bejosh Farm, he makes art from the stuff he finds around the farm. My years of art school tell me his art is called Found Object Art, but Ed, who never went to art school or has any kind of training in art calls it Junk Art.
And I’m not going to argue with Ed, because he’s always made art, so I’m sure he knows what it’s called. Anyway, Junk Art sounds better and it’s uniquely his.
His most recent piece is a creature made from half a giant saw blade, tire irons an old chain and washers. He calls it Mahonga Heila. Ed says the name comes from an old cartoon he used to hear his friends talking about when he was a kid. He never saw the cartoon because he was too busy working on the farm, but the name stuck. Mahonga’s wife Sheila Heila, made from the other side of the saw blade, is in the welding shop as I write this. And it looks like the happy couple may already be sold.
But I’ve said enough. Ed can talk for himself. And he does. Along with his wife Carol they have a blog called Bejosh Farm Journal. On it they invite us all to the farm to see what being a farmer is really all about.
Carol takes the videos, which are as warm and honest as she is, and writes as The Farmers Wife (although she’s as much a farmer as Ed, they’re a team of two) Ed is a natural storyteller, his distinctive voice ranges in subject matter from the price of milk to childhood stories on the farm to the saga of Mr Blockhead (one of his ongoing art works).
Ed will be showing and selling his Junk Art at the Bedlam Farm Open House June 25th and 26th. And Ed will be there to give a talk and answer any of your questions.
Click here to see Bejosh Farm Journal.
Hi
I so enjoy Ed Gulley’s art and sense of humor. I don’t know the cartoon that Ed’s friends watched, but “The word Monongahela is Native American in origin, meaning “falling banks”. The Monongahela tribe was also indigenous to the area prior to the settlement of the city.” It is also the name of the river.
Ed will be quite entertaining at the Open House. This sounds like one of the best lineups of talented people of all persuasions. Wishing you a most successful weekend.
Thanks Janet. I’m going to let Ed know about the meaning of the word and it’s origins. Glad you’re enjoying Ed’s work and his sense of humor.