Bio: |
Big Joe is a self-taught artist from Northern Michigan who has been carving for over 25 years. He lives with his wife Sharon, their dogs, and a handful of cats off a one lane dirt road in Copemish. Big Joe has pursued a wide variety of careers, from being security at rock concerts to construction. Along the way he began "whittling" wood in his Lazy Boy while watching TV with his family. Yes, his family endured some trying moments, such as the time he "slipped". There were droplets of blood everywhere! He still has that piece of wood and looks at it often as a reminder, to wrap that special tape around his fingers .. Initially he carved fish decoys. With time he started carving animals, which progressed into deep relief carvings and recently he began painting. Big Joe is also becoming known for his Big Heads. His tools consist of a variety of "instruments of destruction". Alot of the tools are home made, with a few "store bought". Big Joe has had the opportunity to display his art in Atlanta, Georgia at the Who-Fest and the Folk Fest. He was also in Chicago at the Custer Street Fair, Louisville, Kentucky at the Good Folk Fest. His work is also on display in several galleries throughout the U.S... Joe has been featured in the book "Strange Michigan" by Linda Godfrey who also authored "Weird Michigan"..Big Joe has had the pleasure of meeting several outstanding artists such as Blacktop, W.D. Harden, Ramona Hotel, Cornbread, Eric Legge, and others too numerous to mention.
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Founding Member 
