Eddie Arning (1898-1993) - 'Java'. Oil crayon on paper. 
Frame: H 29-1/4 in. W 39-1/4 in. Paper: H 21-3/4 in. W 31-3/4 in.
Provenance: Fleisher Ollman Gallery, 1/25/2000.
Arning as a young adult,  was institutionalized for schizophrenia, spending one year in hospital prior to returning home, only to be re-institutionalized in 1934 for violent acts. In 1964, after 30 years in the institution,  he was introduced to crayons by Helen Mayfield, an Austin artist who worked in the hospital that summer.  After a few years of using crayons, Arning switched to oil pastels and began producing more complex compositions. His early works were autobiographical and depict scenes from his childhood with animals, flowers, windmills and churches. Later, Arning became inspired by newspapers, advertisements and magazine illustrations and was producing more graphic images. Over ten years (between 1964 and 1974), Arning produced over 2000 drawings. 

Arning is represented in numerous museums, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. American Folk Art Museum, New York, Pérez Art Museum Miami,  and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, Texas.