A Series of two Folk Art Paintings by the 
Late, Virginia, Visionary Folk Artist 
Michael Lee Cook 
Presented by Sunday Historical

These two animal and flower themed paintings, Skippy and Her Kits and Backyard Rabbits are for sale now on Sunday Historical`s web store sundayhistorical.com or can be purchased locally. Both are acrylic, 16 x 20, framed and signed by the artist.

In November 2016, fourteen of Michael Cook`s  Halloween series paintings sold to one buyer who felt a deep connection with the paintings.

MICHAEL LEE COOK  1956-2014
Ruther Glen Virginia
Gallery Association: America Oh Yes at Hilton Head Island, SC and Washington, DC
Work shown at other Venues: The Inn at Glen Echo, Glen Echo, Maryland; Washington Design Center, Art on Six, Washington, DC; Folkfest, Atlanta, Georgia
The Bio below was used on the America Oh Yes Gallery website in the late 1990`s, where he had his first shows and enjoyed success as a Visionary Folk Artist.          

“Michael Cook's interest in art began more than twenty five years ago during high school. He has no formal training and previous efforts in art were restricted to pencil sketching. A few years after high school Michael's creative endeavors fell by the wayside and receded into the past, for the most part forgotten. During the intervening years he worked in a environmental/technical engineering field, including a stint as a facility manager for a public utility. In August of 1998 Michael was involved in a motorcycle accident. This became a crux for reflection and change. He walked out of a fourteen year career and started his own business. Finding some success but little satisfaction, he culled the business back and took a job to pay the bills, and began painting. These paintings seem to fill a deep need for primitive spiritual expression. Their source is Michael's remembrances as a child in Arkansas. He finds it very odd, but compelling to be involved in art after so many years. Michael spent much time and effort seeking what had always been right in front of him.”

SKIPPY AND HER KITS, ACRYLIC, 16 X 20, SIGNED

BACKYARD RABBITS, ACRYLIC, 16 X 20, SIGNED

Contact me at info@sundayhistorical.com with inquiries about the paintings.
Respectful comments welcome.

Folk Artist Michael L. Cook: 14 Halloween Paintings For Sale

Sunday Historical is Proud to Present 

A series of Halloween Paintings by the 

Late Virginia Visionary Folk Artist Michael Lee Cook.

These 14 vintage acrylic on canvas paintings will be on display at vendor space SUN at Cold Harbor Antique Mall starting Saturday October 8, 2016, and are FOR SALE."Trick or Treat" is for sale now on Sunday Historical`s web store sundayhistorical.com. Look for the other 13 for sale online soon.

MICHAEL LEE COOK  1956-2014

Ruther Glen Virginia

Gallery Association: America Oh Yes at Hilton Head Island, SC and Washington, DC

Work shown at other Venues: The Inn at Glen Echo, Glen Echo, Maryland; Washington Design Center, Art on Six, Washington, DC; Folkfest, Atlanta, Georgia

The Bio below was used on the America Oh Yes Gallery website in the late 1990`s, where he had his first shows and enjoyed success as a Visionary Folk Artist.           

“Michael Cook's interest in art began more than twenty five years ago during high school. He has no formal training and previous efforts in art were restricted to pencil sketching. A few years after high school Michael's creative endeavors fell by the wayside and receded into the past, for the most part forgotten. During the intervening years he worked in a environmental/technical engineering field, including a stint as a facility manager for a public utility. In August of 1998 Michael was involved in a motorcycle accident. This became a crux for reflection and change. He walked out of a fourteen year career and started his own business. Finding some success but little satisfaction, he culled the business back and took a job to pay the bills, and began painting. These paintings seem to fill a deep need for primitive spiritual expression. Their source is Michael's remembrances as a child in Arkansas. He finds it very odd, but compelling to be involved in art after so many years. Michael spent much time and effort seeking what had always been right in front of him.”

All paintings in this series are Acrylic on Canvas. 12 are framed with plexiglass covers.
These photos don`t do justice to the colors and details of these paintings.

13 CATS acrylic on canvas 16x20, Framed

Close up of signature

TRICK OR TREAT  14x16, Framed $300

13 RACOONS 14x18, Framed $300

13 RATS 16x20, Framed  $350

13 RAZORBACKS 18x24, Framed $450

13 SQUIRRELS 14x18, Framed $300

PUMPKIN KING 16x20, Framed $350

13 BUZZARDS 16x20, Framed $350

PUMPKIN PATCH CATS 14x18, unframed $300

13 POSSUMS 14x18, Framed $300

13 GOATS 18x24, Framed $450

13 GOATS closeup

13 PUMPKINS 14x16, Framed $275

HALLOWEEN BOUQUET 12x16, unframed $225

13 CROWS 14x16, Framed $275

If you have questions or are interested in purchasing any of these fabulous Folk Art Paintings, please contact Laura at info@sundayhistorical.com. I will list what you are interested in online immediately.

Thanks for viewing the blog, respectful comments welcome.

George C. McGhee WWII Navy Air Intelligence Officer Uniform

        WWII Navy Air Intelligence Officer Uniform ID`d to 

Ambassador George C. McGhee

George C, McGhee Navy Air Intelligence Uniform Coat & Trousers

Both custom tailored coat and trousers have custom name tag sewn in. The number A10449 is inside the coat sleeve and underside of front trouser pocket. McGhee is in faded ink on inside trouser pocket as well as other numbers. There are a few moth holes on both pieces.  Ambassador George Crews McGhee (1912-2005) was a Rhodes Scholar, oil entrepreneur, naval officer, statesman, diplomat, and philanthropist who became a central figure in postwar American diplomacy by helping to create and shape U.S. economic, military, and petroleum ties from Europe to the Far East. Over the course of his long career he served four presidents, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson, and twice served as ambassador.

At the outbreak of World War II George Crews McGhee entered the service of his country as a staff member in the Office of Production Management and on the War Production Board. He made his biggest contribution serving as a naval air intelligence officer in the Pacific on the staff of General Curtis E. LeMay. This service earned him the Legion of Merit in 1945. After the war, McGhee  joined the State Department in 1946. 8th United States Ambassador to Turkey, 4th United States Ambassador to West Germany.

Lt. Rank on sleeves

Custom Tailored Name tag sewn in both uniform pieces

WWII

"The next three months (November 1944 through January 1945) were frustrating, to say the least. Schools worked hard to train the lead crews, determined to improve bombing accuracy. Enormous efforts were made to upgrade maintenance. The depot had to start all over again, and in the meantime the air supply from Sacramento had to be improved. More missions were run against Japanese engine and aircraft factories. But the weather was a terrible opponent, and there was no intelligence of its movements. Japanese fighter opposition was desperate but not deadly, at least in comparison with German fighters. Air kamikaze-ramming tactics were tried with some success. Morale was a critical problem. The airplane engines were still unreliable. Aircraft disabled from combat or other causes were 1,500 miles from friendly territory. The crews had the choice of drowning or bailing out over Japan, to be executed by maddened Japanese. The U.S. Navy contributed tremendously to morale by stationing rescue submarines at intervals along the route. Their performance was superb. One submarine entered Tokyo Bay in daylight and picked up a B-29 crewright under the guns of the Japanese. From November 1944 to August 1945, 600 Twentieth Air Force flyers were saved in open-sea rescues. The system involved Navy flying boats, B-17s (Dumbos) carrying droppable lifeboats, B-29s (Superdumbos), and submarines, all under Navy control. The system was largely the achievement of my Navy Liaison Officer, Comdr. George C. McGhee."
Reference: The Strategic Air War Against Germany and Japan: A Memoir Haywood S. Hansell, Jr. USAF Retired

Photo from Sooner Mag Sept. 1946 article "With the Armed Forces"

Label over inside coat pocket

At the beginning of World War II McGhee was a member of the staff of the Office of Production Management and a member of the War Production Board. Commissioned into the U.S. Navy, McGhee served as a naval air intelligence officer on the staff of Army Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Lt. Rank

Inside coat sleeve

A10449 written inside coat sleeve

Matching Trousers

Custom Tailored Name tag sewn in both uniform pieces

A10449 written inside both uniform pieces

Back of trousers

1943 Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Naval and Reserve

Uniform has been lost for years. McGhee`s Officer's Dress Blue Uniform and Hat are on display at Cold Harbor Antique Mall in Mechanicsville Virginia.

This piece of history is for sale at SundayHistorical.com and will help me continue my project to bring great historical items to light. My hope is that a military or other collector will buy this uniform and donate it to a museum for all to enjoy. Serious collectors please contact me at info@sundayhistorical. 

It can be purchased on my eBay Store Blueprinter1995 (Item ID: 131916891825)

10% of the sale of this item will benefitHire Our Heroes The mission of Hire Our Heroes (HOH) is to empower transitioning veterans with the knowledge, skills, and innovative tools necessary to secure employment after serving our country.

Great work is being done in the State of Virginia by The McGhee Foundation: The mission of The McGhee Foundation is to continue the educational and humanitarian legacy of U. S. Ambassador George C. McGhee (1912-2005) by supporting projects and programs that provide inspirational learning opportunities and enrich the lives of residents in the Virginia Piedmont area.

References:

McGhee biography at the McGhee Foundation

Washington Post Obituary

The Guam Caper from The New Yorker