John Foster|Accidental Mysteries
May 29, 2015
To Catch a Fish
What does it take to catch a fish? That is a question that has been confounding fishermen since the beginning of time. The reputation of a good lure can spread among a fishing community faster than a duck on a junebug. I happen not to be a fisherman, so forgive my assumptions—but it seems to me that a fish will not bite unless it damn well feels like it. I am reminded of a time when, as a boy, my brother was fishing—without luck—in a pond. I was there as an observer, really—just hanging around. Finally, out of worms and the sun high, on a lark he attached a blade of grass to his hook and threw it in. It was a “why not” kind of moment before giving up for the day. Lo and behold, he instantly caught a small Bluegill. He pulled it out and we both stared at it in astonishment. To this day, some fifty years later—we laugh about that moment.
The circumstances involved in landing a fish with a lure are so complex and that it is as much science as magic. The right prescription to catch a fish depends on the type of lure, the way it moves, the color, vibration, shininess, and the way the fisherman uses his rod to create a smooth or staccato rhythm—all the while hoping his combination of skill and luck results in success.
Lures are typically store bought, with multiple hooks, and the varieties are infinite. The lures you see here are as much folk art as they are functional devices to attract fish. Fetish like, and highly decorative, some may roughly resemble the markings found on a small fish, but the majority are miniature examples of expressionist art.
Most of these were found on the blog of 31-year old artist-collector Chance Dunlap, who teaches sculpture and 3D Design at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Dunlap believes that older, handmade lures are unquestionably a genre of folk art; a form that encapsulates design, craft, and art. A professional artist in his own right, Dunlap also makes and exhibits lures, two of which you will see below and nearly seventy-five more you can find on his website.
Observed
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Observed
By John Foster
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