A longtime friend of mine, Marilynn Mosely Porter, loves art. In her home, there isn’t a single square inch of wall space that isn’t covered with it. Even her windows have pieces hung in them. In addition to buying and loving art, she buys and loves renovating houses. How she manages to move all that art from home to home is the eighth wonder of the world.
Marilynn is also a board member of the Friends of Dreamland (FOD) so it is only natural she has the desire to merge her love of art with her passion for preserving the Dreamland Ballroom.
An invitation to a new encounter
Last week, Marilynn invited a few of us McCoy’s to a local artist’s home for a private viewing. The art we saw was like nothing I’d ever encountered.
Through a gated community, we wove our car to find the address. At the home we were greeted by the artist Betty Turner, a few of her friends, and 20 life size caricatures, intricately painted on plywood, all with a back story, told by the artist, dramatic enough to rival any movie plot.
For about 2 hours, we toured the artists home, meeting her “Art People” and hearing their stories. In the foyer stood a black woman with snake hair, said to be a descendant of enslaved Sally Hemings, with her foot resting on Thomas Jefferson’s head. In the library is an archetype of an ex-boyfriend with a snake penis; well you get the picture.
I imagined each art piece as an emotional outlet for the artist. They are not political, but they are certainly social commentary, on everything. There is a drug salesman half dressed, monkeys that look like tech giants, ballerinas, demons, Indians, and workmen.
The Vision and Exhibition
Like Marilynn, I have an appreciation for art of all kinds, especially “outsider art.” I mean, what would the world be like without art and science? With that in mind, Marilynn is planning to bring Betty Turner’s “Art People” to the Dreamland Ballroom for a public exhibition in 2026. Her hope is simple and beautiful: bring her people to the people, through Dreamland.
The vision is to host a three-week exhibition featuring an audio recording of Betty telling each character’s story. The plan is still tentative, as there are many logistics to work out for a project of this scale. One thing is certain: Marilynn’s legendary moving skills will be put to the test. Stay tuned for more details as this unusual and fascinating exhibition comes together and prepares to open to the public.
About the Author
Kerry McCoy founded FlagandBanner.com in 1975 with just $400 and a dream, building it from door-to-door flag sales into a multi-million dollar enterprise. With over five decades in the American flag and banner business, her insights into patriotic trends and flag sales patterns come from serving customers nationwide during times of celebration, crisis, and everything in between.
Kerry is also the host of “Up in Your Business with Kerry McCoy” radio show and continues expanding her business empire through Kerry McCoy Enterprises while sharing the entrepreneurial wisdom gained from decades of building the American dream.
