Matt and Sully sit down inside the Griffith Fine Art Museum at Red Oak Brewery to explore where fine art and folk art meet. Surrounded by a collection of American Impressionist paintings from the late 1800s, they talk about the crossover between high-end galleries and the handmade traditions that define Southern craftsmanship. What starts as a laid-back conversation over a Hummingbird Golden Lager quickly turns into a mix of history, humor, and collecting philosophy.

Matt shares stories about his early days picking with his father, his time at auctioneering school, and how the lessons of the field still guide his work today. Sully brings up Liberty Antiques Festival, walking stick rivalries, and the fine line between a good buy and a mistake that costs you $900. From pottery and furniture to NFTs, the conversation reminds us that every object has a story, whether it’s hanging in a museum or hidden in a barn.

Chapters:
00:00 | Welcome to Red Oak Brewery
06:48 | Has Sully Been Practicing His Bid Calling? Matt Reflects on Auction School and Early Success
09:17 | Who’s Coming to Liberty Tomorrow?
16:15 | Crypto Tales, NFTs, and Auction Adventures
20:50 | Big Buys and the Art of the Auction
30:51 | Matt Recalls One of the Best Tables He Ever Picked
40:08 | Game Day Predictions for Liberty
51:03 | One of the Last Liberty Antiques Festivals
59:56 | Our First Calls to the Folk Art Hotline

As the conversation wraps, Matt and Sully raise a final glass to Red Oak for having us into their gallery and to everyone keeping art alive. Whether it’s a face jug, a walking stick, or a miniature chair, every handmade object carries a story worth telling.

Do you know a folk artist? Send in your folky stories:
📧 houseoffolkart@gmail.com
📞 (919) 410-8002
Leave your name and where you’re from, and you might just get a shoutout on the next podcast.

Follow @houseoffolkart for more behind-the-scenes stories and upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.