“I can’t make you mad, only you can make you mad.”
M.T. LIGGETT
Enjoy a documentary on M.T Liggett, a war veteran turned folk artist from Mullinville, Kansas who turned his acreage into a highway oasis with over 600 large and small political totems and whirligigs. Directed by Joshua Dubois, and filmed over the course of 20 years, this full length documentary is an excellent unfiltered look at a man who most came to love, but most wound up hating.
A very good look at a very complex man. M.T. Liggett’s political sculptures in Mullinville, Kansas are a polarizing and beautiful display of folk art in the wide of a lonesome road. I’feel you knew Mr Liggett you either loved or hated him, most the latter as he hated hypocrisy and boredom and it seemed like he would do anything to work up a sleepy little town and make them think. This didn’t sit well with a lot of town folk but it didn’t matter to Mr Liggett, the only thing that mattered to him was his art.
After visiting the art environment last week and seeing some of the political sculptures, the messages, the imagery, it kept me wondering how to square the art. On the surface the art is unreal, over 600 beautifully satirical and rusty totems that overwhelm and delight, especially as you walk alone on a beautiful Midwest summer night.
This documentary does a tremendous job of explaining the man, and why he does what he does. Mr Liggett would be the first to tell you he is not perfect, and the first to tell you you’re not perfect either. At the end of the day he was a foul mouthed hard working old man from the Midwest, if you’re lucky enough to know one, you know how it goes. The only different is they didn’t create one of the coolest art environments in the country.
Really well shot, well edited, and story well told. You can feel the passion for the man and for the art and for sharing this beautiful story. A must-watch documentary for art lovers everywhere and for anyone trying to figure out that foul mouthed old Midwest man in their life.
Adam Oestreich
Love him or hate him, M.T. Liggett created one of the most impressive, overwhelming, and magical folk art environments in the United States. Take a peek here for more photos and info about a recent visit to M.T. Liggett’s political sculptures,.
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