Six stellar artworks given by Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson

​I’m thrilled to announce that Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson have donated six exquisite artworks to the James E. Brewton Foundation. We are deeply grateful for this generous gift: The Pataphysics Times and The Chinese Lincoln prints, a portrait, and three outstanding abstract mixed-media works.

Carol Broede Olson and Jason Broede with Brewton works in 2010.

Eric Olson with "The Chinese Lincoln" in 2010.

Untitled (portrait of Bruce and Carol Broede, and Ollie, their dog). 1966, oils on canvas, 37" x 30". James E. Brewton Foundation, Gift of Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson.

In the 1960s, Carol and Bruce Broede, her former husband, were good friends of Jim’s in Philadelphia. Carol and Bruce moved to California and their son, Jason, was born in 1970. The marriage ended in divorce, and Carol and Eric Olson were married in 1980.

​Sadly, Bruce Broede died in 2009. 

​Ubu’s Military Mind is a fantastic portrait, in metal and miscellany, of Alfred Jarry’s monstrous Père Ubu character. The earliest piece in this collection, it showcases important elements of Jim’s creative development, when he began using Jarry’s concept of ’Pataphysics as the engine for his artistic practice, which he called “Graffiti Pataphysic.”  

"Ubu’s Military Mind." 1962, mixed media metal construction, 35"x14". James E. Brewton Foundation, Gift of Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson. Photo: Elena Bouvier.

The piece was most recently shown at Jim’s first solo show since 1971, “Graffiti Pataphysic, for all mankind,” 21 March-1 May 2014, at Slought, 4017 Walnut St., Philadelphia.

Jim’s flair for elevating mundane materials is especially apparent in X and An Egg Carton for the Wall. 

"An Egg Carton for the Wall." 1966, mixed media on canvas, 23" x 13". James E. Brewton Foundation, Gift of Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson.

X, a square mixed-media work on canvas, is a magical piece: with discarded silverware packaging, Jim conjured an ancient frieze depicting some sort of supplication to the sun. “X” refers to the small white “x” Jim stenciled onto the canvas, marking the spot where he’d stuck a perfume ad from a magazine and then peeled it off. “X is truly a show-stopper,” says Carol, “and it was such fun to take a look once in a while at The Pataphysics Times and read something.”

"X." 1966, mixed media on canvas, 24.5"x24.5". James E. Brewton Foundation, Gift of Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson.

The Brewton Foundation’s board of directors and I are extremely grateful to Jason Broede, Carol Broede, and Eric Olson, for their generosity.

These beautiful works are important examples of Jim’s Graffiti Pataphysic practice, and we're thrilled to have them in the Brewton Foundation collection.

Yours,