Bird Man's art is hot for Shreveport collectors

Why do we collect art from living artists? Usually because it's cheap. And we're taking a gamble that when that artist dies her or his art will be worth much more than we've invested in it.

The Shreveport area has grown several nationally renowned outsider/folk artists. Clementine Hunter is probably the most famous. "Artist Chuckie" Williams  would paint famous folks and sit the paintings  in the front yard of his house in Shreveport. M. C. "5 Cent" Jones used ball point pen and watercolors on poster board to create his works.

Who is the newest outsider/folk artist in the Shreveport area? I call him Bird Man because he is always making origami birds. Sometimes he will make a rose. He gives these fabulously fun creatures away.

The Bird Man is hard to catch. You can usually spot him at a reception or an event where free food is being served. Take the time to talk to Bird Man and he will tell you where all the best free food is being served that day. This outsider artist man has his pulse on the movable feasts of SB Land. And what's wrong with that? That's why those events and places serve free food. To get people to come.

You luck out when you get a Bird Man origami bird created on the spot. He will give it to you because he doesn't sell his work. Instead Bird Man says "I like giving people the bird."

Don't give me flack for not using Bird Man's real name. He doesn't roll that way. This authentic artist doesn't roll up into a cluster of folks and say "Hi, I'm..." Instead he catches your eye and flaps those tiny paper bird wings. He usually leaves the next step up to you. You can engage him in conversation or run away freaked out because this human being is not following the normal rules of social conduct.

Next time you see the Bird Man tell him I said howdy. It's up to you to decide if you want to collect his work. And I'm telling you if you can prove your piece was crafted by him it will be worth money one day. Then folks will be forging his work just like they do Clementine Hunter's. How many of those fakes do we have living in Shreveport? Good Goddess. The art world is one strange ass place. And almost as cool as a professional wrestling match. Almost.