Fulgurites vs. Asparagus

(Detroit, Michigan, ca. 1974). Original mixed media illustration on board, featured in the July 28th Detroit Free Press newspaper article "Truths and Outright Lies About Michigan Asparagus" by Jim Schutze; copyright stamp on verso. Scattered edgewear; pinholes at top corners; lightly toned; scattered foxing along bottom edge. Board: 16 1/8 x 21 7/8 in. (409 x 556 mm); image: 14 x 20 in. (356 x 508 mm).

Nolan Ross was a cartoonist who worked for the Detroit Free Press from 1972-88.

"Schutze and Ross traveled together on assignment from time to time, something Schutze says Ross was particularly fond of. 'We traveled once to the west side of Michigan; we were there for the better part of a week covering some asparagus festival. I thought I could better spend my time on some other story but Nolan thought it was a riot,' says Schutze, who appreciated Ross' wacky affinity for the weird. Case in point: on the assignment, Ross wouldn't stop talking about fulgurites--tubular formations found in the dunes of western Michigan that are born when lightning strikes sand and rock. 'Nolan just wouldn't stop talking about these things--but it went from being really annoying to really funny,' says Schutze who, in his article 'Truths and Outright Lies About Michigan Asparagus,' depicted fulgurites as wicked imps bent on destroying the jovial gang of asparagus." (Travis R. Wright, Fulgurites, asparagus and zaniness, Detroit Metro Times, September 30, 2009).