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James Castle

Workers find art hidden in wall of Idaho artist’s house

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson

 

James Castle
James Castle portrait of ‘Castle Family,’ unrelated to the discovery of art discussed in this article. Graphite and soot on paper, auctioned for $11,000 on Nov. 8, 2014. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers Archive and Slotin Folk Art

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Workers restoring the Boise house of self-taught artist James Castle discovered a trove of art hidden in a wall.

KTVB-TV reports the crews found 11 art pieces that likely have been in the walls of the now museum and art gallery for decades.

House manager Rachel Reichert says the collection is valued at more than $1 million.

Project architect Byron Folwell says it wasn’t immediately clear what was inside the wall as the works were covered in a dark fabric and topped with cobwebs.

Reichert says the discovery will aid in the restoration as one of the works shows part of the home’s interior that the crews have been trying to recreate.

The city is nearing completion on the restoration of the home of the Idaho artist, who died in 1977.

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Information from: KTVB-TV, http://www.ktvb.com/

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