Reviewed by Rick Stoddart

James Castle: Dream House (DVD)
Tom Trusky, P. Lutze, R. Klautsch et al.
Boise, Idaho: Idaho Center for the Book, 2008.
$19.95

This is an updated DVD re-release of the 1999 documentary of Idaho artist James Castle that was shown on Idaho Public Television. Included in this updated edition is an epilogue by the late Tom Trusky, former head of the Idaho Center for the Book. In his epilogue, Trusky presents recent research that provides new insight into Castle’s life. Although the documentary is now over ten years old, this work still holds up as it deftly integrates historical photographs, interviews, and the artist's own work to tell a compelling story of his life and art.

"(R)eputably deaf and dumb," Castle was a self-taught artist relying on found objects such as discarded books and advertisements to construct his art. Considered by the art establishment as an outsider artist with little or no artistic training, Castle's work surprisingly incorporates many artistic trends and themes from various formal schools of art. His work is regarded highly across the nation with many pieces residing in prestigious museums and avidly sought after by collectors. This DVD traces Castle's journey from obscurity to recognition.

The only thing missing from the video is a “special features” section such as is now included on most DVDs. Extras such as a video slideshow of Mr. Castle's artwork or outtakes from the full interviews would have added depth for the researcher. That lone criticism aside, James Castle: Dream House is a worthy addition to any Idaho Library. This video complements many of the recently released works such as James Castle: A Retrospective (2009) by Ann Percy and James Castle: His Life & Art (2004) by Tom Trusky. I would recommend this video for any collection interested in Idaho's art history or art in general.

Rick Stoddart is a Reference Librarian at Boise State University.