Thinking About Wes Freed's Mirthful Art

by F.T. Rea

Note: What follows this note is a portion of a work-in-progress about Wes Freed's art that I am penning. Hopefully, this preview of that article I'm writing will do more to stimulate more interest in Wes' fine art. Once I am done with crafting the piece, we'll see where it lands. Here goes... 

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Artist/musician, Wes Freed (1964-2022), grew up on a family farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, near Staunton. At Virginia Commonwealth University (in Richmond) he became a trained artist: Major: Painting and Printmaking. Minor: Sculpture. 

Freed's art consistently displays a natural confidence, particularly so with design. Which, in this instance means the eye-pleasing, harmonious arrangement of the elements in play. As for what his art is about, the images Wes Freed created tended to radiate a sense of delight. It's easy to pick up the feeling that the artist enjoyed making the stuff. 

Moreover, Wes was an original, he wasn't copying anybody's style. Which is part of why his rock 'n' roll posters and other sundries have been sought after and collected by his fans and friends for a good many years.

 
Speaking of the collectible angle, Freed's art certainly has the necessary ingredients to be in demand. The foremost of which is that it's quite distinctive. On top of that, those whimsical Wes Freed-designed posters are authentic artifacts of an era's cool nightlife scene. That goes for the countless posters he designed to promote staged events. And the album covers. And the celebrations of particular show biz luminaries he revered. And in support of worthy causes that he cared about.

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"The Art of Wes Freed" is the title of Freed's 2019 coffee table book in which he presents his story in words and pictures. The playful subtitle of the coffee table book displaying a generous helping of his mirthful art is, "Paintings, Posters, Pin-ups & Possums." Stemming from recent sales of that book, as well as some prints and original pieces, it seems the value of Freed's art is solidifying in the merch-collecting world.

The fact that Freed's art has already been seen all over the country -- due to his series of posters and album covers for the Drive-By Truckers -- gives it an advantage in the collectibles marketplace. So don't throw away any of those Drive-By Truckers or Capital City Barn Dance show posters you have saved. Some day, selling a genuine Freed piece might pay the rent. 

The foreword of Freed's book was written by Patterson Hood (songwriter, performer and co-founder of Drive-By Truckers). 

In the first chapter Wes tells of how he met and befriended Hood and the other members of the band (now celebrating its 40th anniversary). Then dozens of pieces of the art Freed created to promote that band's shows, albums, etc., are displayed across the next 77 pages. Other chapters cover page after page of other posters and pin-ups and so forth, 

By the way, Wes was an unapologetic, died-in-the wool,  possum fan. To be continued...