DELTA MERCANTILE
34.5”x 34.5”x 24”
Mixed Media
2020

Wooden cupola with patina copper roof, steel, paper, glass, electrical

I discovered this old mercantile store one day while driving through the Arkansas Delta. These old places tend to beckon to me, so I pulled over and walked inside.

I was alone and thought the place vacant until I yelled ‘hello!’ Immediately two men that had been in the shadows observing me as I made my way through the dusty memorabilia, spoke up. “Howdy back.” one said. “My daddy used to own this place” one said as he walked into the light. “Used to be a cotton gin back in the day, then a store, and now it’s mine” “One day I’m gonna get some more good stuff in here.” I shook my head politely and caught myself more interested in the walls and bricks than in the goods inside. The old saying “If these walls could talk” sure rang true to me that day. He then stepped so close to me I could smell his breath and said in a low southern drawl “You git on outta here now ya’ hear?” “It ain’t safe for a woman like you to be around here after dark” “Someone’ll knock you in the head and not think twice about it.” It was a chilling statement and I quickly remembered that I was alone. His cold stare told me know he was serious, and a quick glance showed me the sun was going down so I thanked him for his concern and slowly made my way to the door. As I got in my car and locked the doors I looked one last time on the old building where children once bought penny candy, men sat on the front porch and drank ice cold coca cola and talked about the price of cotton, where women bought flour and sugar and special printed bolts of cloth to make pretty dresses out of. That’s how I choose to remember these places. Yes, I document the changes of locations and the ravages of time, but it’s the spirit of these places of wonder that will live forever in my heart and imagination.