GEE, I THOUGHT I HAD STUFF

THE HISTORIC ENGLAND WEBSITE recently posted “Birkenhead’s Hidden Gem of Outsider Art ‘Ron’s Place’ Newly Listed.”

An Unassuming Victorian Villa—Not. Historic England writes, “Concealed for over 30 years within an unassuming Victorian semi-detached villa, Ron Gittins meticulously crafted a striking visionary environment, which remained a secret until he died in 2019.” 

Ron’s Place. This and other images from Historic England. 

The property is in Merseyside, described in Wikipedia as “a ceremonial and metropolitan county in North West England…. The largest settlement is the city of Liverpool.”

Many of us remember Merseyside as the home of the Beatles. Historic England quotes Jarvis Cocker, frontman and founder of Pulp: “A small number of people on this planet have known for a while that Ron’s Place is a very Special Place – but from now on, it is official: Ron’s Place has been given listed status! The work of one unique gentleman in the north of England has been recognised nationally. Globally even. Hallelujah !!”

I agree. Novel fireplaces are among its features.

Stuff of a High Order. Historic England observes, “From intricate murals depicting historical scenes to hand-crafted concrete fireplaces in the shape of a roaring lion’s head, a Minotaur’s head (a mythical creature with the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull) and even a Roman bread oven, Gittins’ creative imagination permeated every corner of his rented ground-floor flat.” 

Rented? I am reminded of a cartoon from The New Yorker posed on my fridge.

Internationally Recognized. “Outsider Art,” says Historic England, “is an internationally recognised creative phenomenon that often transcends genres and goes under various umbrella terms, including Art Brut (raw art), Folk art, Intuitive art or Visionary art and Naïve art.”

Historic England continues, “Tate describes Outsider Art as ‘art that has a naïve quality, often produced by people who have not trained as artists or worked within the conventional structures of art production.’ A key feature of Outsider Art and the artists involved is that the work is created without an audience in mind and often purely for themselves.”

Above, Ron’s Place. Below, Dennis’s Place. Somehow this is looking more like home.  

A Flamboyant Yet Private Person.  “With limited formal artistic training,” Historic England observes, “he developed his own very particular world, articulated through his flat and the creation of historic costumes. He would often wear his costumes when out in the local area, but he kept the creations within his home for his own appreciation, with visitors largely discouraged. Together, these aspects sum up both Ron’s flamboyantly engaging and deeply private sides.” 

I especially like Ron’s Egyptian hallway. My pal Akhnaten is probably nearby.

Pompeii an Inspiration. “The result,” Historic England writes, “is a compelling, immersive space that reflects Ron’s intense character, combining his imaginative creative abilities and abiding passion for history following a visit to Pompeii as a young man.”

I’ve never been to Pompeii, but agree that travel is often inspiring. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024