I have to admit to a bit of a hankering for all things kitsch. You know, tiki lounge decor, shag pile rugs, garish day-glo colours. I’d never have any of them in my own house but I love poring over the kitsch extravagances of others. Black velvet masterpieces : highlights from the collection of the velveteria museum is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a little vicarious velvet painting appreciation from the comfort of my own, completely non-velvet adorned home.
This book has every kind of awful velvet painting image you could want for and more! Big-eyed children, crying clowns, kittens, Jesus, and of course…Elvis Presley all feature. More astonishing (to me) is the fact that there is a whole museum or “velveteria” devoted to the alternate art form. If I ever find myself in Portland, Oregon and feel a very strong need to gaze on the glory of Jesus blessing a Mack truck, I’ll know exactly where to go. Kitsch-tastic!