Story Teller

Description

THE STORY TELLER

The Story Teller was a real character referred to as GHOSTA COON. Most of the children in the area feared him. He was a homeless person that roamed the streets and wooded areas of Orlando Florida, the neighbors would give him used clothes, food and small amounts of change. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, society stereotyped a person who did not work was a bomb. The children could not conceive the reality that human beings could be or choose to be homeless.

We lived near a woody under developed area in the vicinity of America Street, near Wood Street and the Carter Street playground and ball park known as Black Bottom. Ghosta Coon would visit my grandparents who would feed him and give him clothes also.

He would be at the ballpark near the woods in the evening, and light a fire and spend the night on the ground. Sometimes as children we would go to the park and make fun of him. Then he would begin to tell us frightened stories which I later learned the stories came from the Bible.

The Original oil on canvas size: 24″ x 24″; Date of work 1993. The first edition of the Lithograph is 600. The description is a reproduction on Strathmore 80 lb-cover stock. The image is 16″ x 16″ with a 1  1/2″ border. 5″ X 7″ Post cards also available.