Wesley Willis Art

Rare Wesley Willis Drawing of Single Family Home

Here's a rare neighborhod Wedley Willis drawing of a single family home called "White House on the North Side". It's on sale at eBay right now. I've never seen one like this. If anyone has more, please post!

Here is the seller's story, which he sent to me by email:

To understand how I met Wesley Willis, you have to understand who I was. Between the beginning of the 1970’ through the 1980’s, Chicago experienced the biggest building boom in its history. I was there for most of this boom with my coffee truck, Dan’s Coffee Cup. Yes, those who worked on the jobsites and those working downtown will remember that golden cab, silver body coffee truck that was there at the jobsites for that all important coffee break between 9:00 and 10:15 AM. And I might add, I served the best cup of coffee in Chicago…..

I really don’t recall exactly which jobsite I was at either downtown or on the near north side, but I seem to recall that Wesley came by from time to time, to hang out and look at the jobsites. It seems to me, he was always carrying his magic markers and cardboard canvas and drawing some of the building downtown. I am sure that I saw him around and that we shot the bull once in a while before he asked me if I wanted my house drawn by him.

He was a pretty loud and boisterous fellow and was very friendly to my customers and me, so I agree to meet him after my noon stop (the end of my day) and take him to my house. He spent about one-hour drawing the house as I left him alone in front with a lawn chair and a coke. While his artwork is not what you would call refined, it was bold and brassy. I felt at that time that there was something special about his art.

I am sure that I saw him after the day of the drawing, but that fall of 1990 was the end of my career as Coffee Dan. I was arrested for parking by the IC train station and with Daley in power in Chicago it was time to move on. You see, when you are in the food business, they (the powers to be) can just about shut you down when ever they want. Plus adding the fact that I ran for Congress in the 11th District in the Republican Primary in 1984 and I ran for Alderman in the 45th Ward in 1987, I really had no friends in City Hall. I had started producing a public access television show in 1986, THE OTHER SIDE, to promote Republican candidates. After fifty shows, I changed my direction and went back to my first love, motorcycle racing, and started producing, TEAM CHICAGO CHALLENGE. To date, I have produced over 900 shows and my show can be seen on Channel 19 on Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM.

So you see, after my retirement from the great times as Coffee Dan, I wasn’t downtown everyday and I don’t think I ever saw Wesley Willis again.

Dan
www.teamchicago.tv

Here's the home:

Here are pics of the art:

UPDATE: Did not sell (starting bid of $1,000)

UPDATE 2: eventually did sell at $1,000.