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Peter J. Ketchum

Affordable, Unusual and Graphically Contemporary Art: Paintings, Prints, Mixed Media and Sculpture.

Painting, Prints, Sculpture. NOTE: Commissions available using your photos.

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ON THE BOWERY READY TO DIE FOR JESUS

ON THE BOWERY READY TO DIE FOR JESUS is an 8X6 limited edition, signed print. It was created with a background of a 1894 theater poster and a found cabinet card.
The poster advertises a play about Steve Brody who took a giant leap of faith and jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge. He lived. The former destitute race track denizen parlayed his feat into a lucrative career including getting paid $500 dollars for jumping into the Hudson from the 222 foot Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge. ‘Do a brodie” became common slang. It meant make take a risk. Brodie it.
After being seriously injured Brodie wisely said he was “not disposed to bridge jumping again. But Niagara Falls? Yup.
The seal of the Salvation Army is behind a cabinet card by a photographer named Sullivan. I don’t think it’s the more famous Timothy O’Sullivan, Brady’s assistant. Members of a Salvation Army band pose in the photographer’s studio. One of their hats was added in front. The drum asks if “are U ready to die.” Yikes! Your scaring this octogenarian!
As for the poster words, “War-cry? Go chase yourself.” I have no clue. Maybe Brodie said it?
I have collected a number of Salvation Army cabinet cards. One I made into a work called “Salvatore of the Salvation Army.” It was adapted and mounted on a wood panel. It can be seen on my web page peterjketchum.com in the Religion Gallery.
 

 

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