This exhibition highlights the imagination and pictorial and sculptural ingenuity of fraternal societies that inherit the “mystery school” tradition of ritual and elaborate visual language. The galleries look marvelous, and the collection, with its semiotic sophistication, leaves viewers puzzling and asking for more.
01
Masonic Knights Templar Shade, artist unidentified, United States, 1875–1900, paint on canvas.
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Apron, artist unidentified, United States, 1840–60, paint, gold paint, and ink on silk satin with cotton fringe and bullion trim.
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Improved Order of Red Men, Altar, artist unidentified, United States, 1875–1925, paint on wood.
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Banner, artist unidentified, United States, 1900–20, paint on canvas, with wood and metal.
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Inner Guard Robe, The Ward-Stilson Company, New London, Ohio, 1875–1925, velvet, cotton, and metal.
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Fraternal Hourglass, artist unidentified, United States, 1875–1925, paint and gold leaf on wood, with metal.
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Marquetry Table, James J. Crozier, probably Islip, New York, 1933, wood
COURTESY AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM
Masonic Appliqué Quilt, artist unidentified (grandmother of Wayne Robb), United States, 1885, cotton.
AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM, PROMISED GIFT OF KENDRA AND ALLAN DANIEL