The Reverend Benjamin Perkins was a southern artist who
painted colorful patriotic and biblical themes on gourds as
well as traditional surfaces. In addition to being a
preacher, Perkins liked to think of himself as a staunch
patriot. He served in the Marine Corps from 1921 through
1925 and claimed that during his service he was sent on
secret missions to Latin America and other places. In 1929
he became a minister in the Assembly of God and in 1940 he
joined the Church of God, rising to the rank of bishop
within that church. When B.F. Perkins began planning for his
retirement in 1979, he decided that art would be an
appropriate activity. He took an art course at a local
Junior College where he said "They let you pick your own
style". Perkins dealt with three main themes in his colorful
work. He painted patriotic scenes, frequently including the
American flag and the Statue of Liberty and adding anti drug
and patriotic slogans. He illustrated stories from the Bible
and he depicted the objects found in King Tuts tomb. The
work of the Reverend Benjamin Perkins provides the kind of
colorful whimsy that can brighten up any collection. His
works can be found in many museum collections including the
Birmingham Museum of Art, the Fayette Art Museum and the
Morris Museum of Art.
My Driveway $2,000 28 x 32 framed acrylic on canvas A King Tut Treasure Table #1 $2,500 28" wide Miss Liberty Gourd #1 13" tall $375 Miss Liberty Guord #2 18" $550 A King Tut Treasure Table #2 $4,000
