1934 – , Louisiana
New Orleans’ Jackson Square is where “Big” Al Taplet had been shining shoes for years. We visited Al a few times, finding him in Jackson Square, then going to his shop/home a short distance away. His art covered the small space, and was bathed in the smell of shoe polish, paint, and slate.
“Big” Al (he stands at about 5 foot 2) began to paint colorful sayings (“Trust In God Like You Trust In Your Shoes”) on roofing slate and later on tin to attract passersby. “People began to stop by just to buy my signs and not even get a shoe shine”.
His simple works in bright acrylics also include portraits of his 3-legged dog (“Got run over by one of those horse-drawn carts”) and many shoes. Together with his twin brother “Little” Al, they shined shoes and sold art.
After Katrina, the Taplet brothers relocated to the Houston area.