Doo-Nanny Memories

The Doo-Nanny was totally MAGIC. It truly is the “world’s premiere lo-fi art, music and movie festival”. Held in Seale, Alabama on Butch Anthony’s property, it is a gathering of people he finds inspiring. The sky’s the limit for creative expression at the Doo-Nanny.

Mad Tea Tent

Robert Seven describes the Doo-Nanny as, “A truly unique experience!….a casserole of southern folk art, home cookin’, homemade movies, camping, foot-stompin’ music, experimental architecture, guessing, oddities, unusual characters, a movie festival, surprises, cracker ingenuity, experiential transomism, and much more!” His call to people to attend said, “we ARE the victory garden, so come and root and seed and till and sew and harvest and eat and dance and learn and be amazed at what you can do with Lo-Fi Intertwangleism…….” So hard to top his language.

In fact, I must quote his words for his friends that said they couldn’t make it, “No words can hold her, this living jewel, this pilgrimage into the sacred heart of a dust mote blown from a mule’s nose from bellering so hard you think he’s gonann cum and die at the same time…..the twilight zone of the Possum Trot….morning coffee in a kitchen in the woods…..the raw art and jubilant, holographic unfoldment of a thousand births in the glimmer of raging flame upon still water….the tides of laughter rolling and rolling and consuming the feeble excuses of the great distractor Helljizzahih, now but a wafting tune, marrying the perfume of smoking mullet and carring grace into the heart of time….sweet Doo-Nanny, I crawl to thee over the wings of squawking parrots to bring you my silent worm….”

The Possum Trot auction is a true Southern institution (I’ve been to one similar to the one in Seale in Bryson City, NC). And the true Southerners there were gracious to the freaks and weirdos that descended on the auction last Friday.

Mad Tea Party played hours and hours of some of the best music we’ve ever played on a custom stage and dance floor to fantastic costumed people dancing with reckless abandon. I was stage manager/emcee, and Jason ran the sound. Jake Hollifield, our good friend and a killer piano player, was with us and played with us. We facilitated performances that ranged from a tiny little girl singing opera to a world class drag queen from L.A. (in her 6th costume of the day) singing “Proud Mary” as the giant wooden Doo-Nanny burned. (I am hoping to post a video soon of the dramatic lighting of the Doo-Nanny.)

Butch Anthony is one of the most talented artists I’ve ever met. You simply must make a pilgrimage to his property to view his work (best time to do this = Doo-Nanny 2010). His assembled artist friends were all equally impressive. The work of all the artists at the Doo-Nanny ooozed authenticity. Jason and I are super passionate about folk art. Our house is filled with it. Some of the most satisfying shows we’ve ever had have been at folk art festivals. So we were glad to re-unite with some of our favorite artists and people at the Doo-Nanny.

A really neat thing was that Les Blank, an incredible award-willing film-maker, was at the Doo-Nanny. He is making a movie about Butch. He filmed us playing. We hung out and heard his stories. We watched a work-in-progress of his in the 24-Hour Doo-Nanny Movie Theater (in fixed up trailer) at 4:00 am on Sunday.

It rained a ton, which scared off most of the people who might have attended otherwise. Which was a bummer, really, but also created a cool, powerful energy among those of us tough enough to brave the elements for the sake of art. And all of the rain made the huge, explosive Doo-Nanny fire on Saturday night that much more satisfying.

I’ve posted a gallery of photos from the weekend. Check it out! There are lots of other cool ones going up, I’ll try to share them as I find them. And if I get it together I’ll make a video. Feel free to ask questions. I am only touching a sliver of this experience here – let me know if there is something you want me to expound on.

Butch Anthony