3 replies to this topic

[carl s]

Robert Williams b. 1943 began his art career as a hot rod and underground comics illustrator working with Ed – Big Daddy – ‘Ratfink’ – Roth.
He became well known for the contributions that he made to Zap and other underground comics during the late sixties, and his books Zombie Mystery Paintings, Visual Addiction, and Twisted Libido have all become cult classics.
He soon made his mark and lasting identification as a psychedelic icon painting the grotesque, sleazy , hallucinogenic perception of the world with a touch of cartoony  humor.
His work “Death On The Boards” 1992 depicting the tragic Los Angeles Speedway board track accidents of Nov 25 1920 is a favorite and pulls together all his elements of style and social commentary.
I recently discovered what I believe could very well have given him inspiration for his own work, a 1910 painting by architect turned painter, Albert Levering b. 1869. “And The Prize Is death”

 

Death on the Boards - Robert Williams 1992

https://www.flickr.c...57649426145416/

 

"And The Prize Is Death" 1910 Levering, Albert

https://www.flickr.c...57649426145416/

 

[Collombin]

Thank you for providing the date of the Williams painting and his age. I had often wondered why Chevrolet's car is depicted as red in this work, incorrectly it seems (although understandable).

Edited by E.B., 04 August 2018 - 09:43.

[Jim Thurman]

Apropos to this, for another project I was attempting to locate Eddie O'Donnell's burial location. It seemed almost as convoluted as the situation with Frank Lockhart, only without the financial issue or lengthy delay. There was some question where he'd be interred. Since he'd lived in Los Angeles for a while, newspapers had O'Donnell being interred at Rosedale Cemetery. Yet, he wasn't there. Upon contacting someone at the cemetery, they checked the interment record and told me a note was written on the O'Donnell entry that simply read: "Whitewater." They told me they didn't know what it meant, but I did:

 

Find A Grave link

 

 

 

 

[Michael Ferner]

Good find! Well done!