PhantomRoadStudios

A life spent experiencing the popular culture and the attitudes of his times are reflected in MJ Kopala’s artistic vision. His original drawings, photography and the use of digital technology combine to bring forth iconic images we recognize but cannot identify and yet we know on a visceral level they are real. Also greatly influencing his work is the immense Midwest, a vast and complex landscape with almost forgotten roads, places and rituals. MJ Kopala is now offering for the first times images from his famous (or is it infamous?) Cremintins Amusement Park and Traveling Carnival to Zazzle. Cremintins began as a side road fruit and vegetable stand by Arthur E. Cremintins in 1897 in Wabash, Illinois (the gateway to the famed Wabash National Forest). It quickly grew into an annual Halloween Pumpkin Patch and Corn Stalk Maze. Then, in 1912, into an Amusement Park. Finally, in 1929, a Traveling Carnival was added. All three are doing a thriving business and are still owned by the Cremintins family. Some say that Cremintins is not ’real’ and only exists in the mind of MJ Kopala. That the artist is merely the topographer of this all but mythical place. But does that really matter? So print up T-shirt, mug or one of the many other items offered by Zazzle with some of your favorite Cremintins characters. Enjoy to the odd glory that is Cremintins, all the time. For more information on mj kopala and Cremintins, please go to the artist's other website by using the 'My Website' link to the upper left of this box or by entering "mjkopala.com" on your computer.