Jake "J.T." McCord: Paintings from the Porch

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      Jake McCord was born in Lincoln County, Georgia in 1945, and lived to be 64, passing away in 2009. His family was one of the first African American families to purchase land in this region of the South. One of 11 children, McCord was raised on a farm where he and his siblings contributed to planting and picking crops. He briefly attended Pleasant School in Thomson, yet received minimal education as he was forced to work the farm at a young age. In the 1970s, he began working for the city of Thomson, where he was employed as a groundskeeper for 39 years.

     As a self-taught artist, Jake was introduced to painting in more ways than one. Around 1984, he observed women taking painting lessons at the Hawes Paint Store near his home, and was inspired to try it himself. McCord also recalled when he bought a 1967 green and white Chevrolet for $600, in the trunk someone had left a half-covered board with an unfinished painting. “I couldn’t make out what they were drawing,” McCord said, “so, I figured out what I wanted to paint on it.” McCord decided on a spotted dog, the type he would often see when cutting grass in Westview Cemetery, which became a source of inspiration.

     Another influence was television, which kept McCord occupied while he lived alone in the center of town. Living in an old wood-framed home with a large front porch, he asserted that his artwork was “just for fun” but that his paintings kept him company. Obsessed with TV, McCord would often have several on at the same time, tuned in to a variety of programs such as Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Julia Child, or one of his favorite soap operas. He preached that it wasn’t healthy to have the television off for too long because it needed to be “exercised.”

     Each of McCord’s paintings tell a story in vivid, brash color, and features flat, two-dimensional figures conjured while working or watching television. Many of his favorite subjects are unapologetically ordinary, such as houses, animals, or women with big hairdos. Although most of his figures look menacing or terrified, with teeth bared and wide-open eyes, McCord argued that his subjects were in fact “jolly” and smiling. Feeling a need to dress-up a figure, he would often add “extra touches” or “accessories” to his subjects, such as purses, wristwatches, or a leashed pet.

     McCord greatly intended for his work to be enjoyed by his community. After finishing a painting, he would present it nailed to the wall, onto a post, or leaning on his front porch. Transforming his porch into an art gallery, McCord could be seen sitting in this makeshift space in one of his rocking chairs willing to speak to anyone about anything, but especially his art. He yearned for children and local residents to see but more importantly enjoy his art. This ritual was integral to the artist’s practice, for instead of selling the work quickly, McCord was adamant that each painting had to be installed and displayed for an adequate amount of time before they “were ready to go.” It was only afterwards that they were made available for purchase by visitors.

Exhibition Specifications:

Number of works: 

• 43 Paintings, 5 are double-sided. 
• 6 framed photographs, 18" x 24"
• 2 videos

Size of Exhibition: 

• up to 3000 Square ft. is recommended.
• The exhibition can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of your gallery.

Availability: 

• January 2025 onward

Fees:

• Price available upon request

Shipping:

• Shipping charges are not included in the rental fee and are the responsibility of the borrower.  A list of available shipping partners can be provided upon request.
• x1 C-Bin 60" L x 25" W x 28" L,
• x1 box 24"L x 24" W x 24" H
• x 1 Slipcase 29" L x 1" W x 67" H 

Loan Duration: 

• 8-10 or 12-16 weeks. 
• Exhibition loan durations are customizable to best suit your institution’s timeline.

Labels & Didactics:

• Venues responsibility to print labels and didactic info.
• InDesign tombstone label document will be provided.

Security

• Moderate security required.

Hardware

• Detailed installation instructions, and special hardware travels with the exhibition.

Credit Line:

• Private Collection

Future Venues:

August - November 2026 

Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University, Roanoke, VA. 

Selected  Paintings

https://www.hollins.edu/the-eleanor-d-wilson-museum/ 

Past Venues:

January 12 - May 4, 2024

Jake McCord: Paintings from the Porch

Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries, Old Dominion University, 

Norfolk, VA. (30 paintings)

"I likes to paint a picture at night  — dream about it and go outside in the morning and see it again."  Jake McCord