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Tacky Treasures
The Mark Eden Bust Developer, the Popener, a rubber band
vest, and more
Nouveau Tacky
Jesus playing football, a Chairman Mao cigarette lighter,
and other delightfully tasteless objects
Tacky Places
Foamhenge, Cooter's Place, Planet Wayside,
and other whimsical places
Tacky Topics
The Tacky Treasures Road Show, Mike the Headless Chicken,
big heads, art cars, salt & pepper shakers, ballerinas abuse
Seasonal Tacky
Naked witch earrings, Love Kubes™, kinky cuffs,
pooping reindeer, Santa piñata, and other holiday treats
Books & Records
Why not eat insects, the Temple City Kazoo
Orchestra, and more
Tacky Links |
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Tiny
Town / BoneZone
Near Cerrillos, New Mexico is a crazily wonderful little
folk environment called Tiny Town, also known as the BoneZone.
The ostensible mayor of Tiny Town is Tammy "Tatt2 Tammy"
Lange, a former tattoo artist. Now she's moved into the visionary
arts; in fact her work has been displayed at the American
Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. You can't
miss Tiny Town as you travel the "Turquoise Trail,"
the back road between Albuquerque and Sante Fe.
On a lovely sunny day in late May 2007, I wandered through
Tammy's installation which sits in front of her mobile home.
I feel elated whenever I see a good-hearted exercise of one's
imagination, because it makes me think that some day, I too,
could be a visionary artist. (Then I remember this web site,
and figure I already am one.) But what a joy it is to realize
that there's yet another kindred spirit out there! My only
regret in visiting this place was not having the opportunity
to meet Tammy herself.
Tammy's medium is found objects, especially recently living
found objects, also known as "road kill." Working
with bones is one of her trademarks -- she's known for her
motorcycle made from the vertebrae and other bones of a large
animal. To those who don't appreciate the outsider artist,
her yard looks like a junk heap. But I looked around, and
saw a certain order. There's a little town made of scrap wood,
and doll house furniture, populated by plastic toy figures.
Elsewhere, it looks like she's building an outdoor bowling
alley.
Pictures can only do so much to convey the spirit of the
place. I hope I inspire in others the urge to seek out such
unique places in this otherwise mass media-driven world. Better
yet, I hope to encourage people to let me know where such
places exist, so I can go there for spiritual sustenance and/or
a good laugh.
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Photos
taken on May 28, 2007
by Julie Mangin 
"No Bitching" sign at Tiny Town
"Welcome to Tiny Town"
The famous bone motorcycle
Tammy's warning to trespassers
(I wonder what Mr. Scotty did to piss Tammy off?)
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A Lil Julie Production