The late Dr. Randolph H. Riley who had an optometrist practice in Chickasha for many years was a man of many facets.  An avid hunter and fisherman, Dr. Riley was also a collector.  He collected antique eye exam equipment and art that he liked.  The art pieces reflected the “old west” through the oil paintings and sculptures that he donated to the Grady County Museum.  Yet Dr. Riley was an artist at heart himself.  Beginning in 1979 he began to produce what developed into a vast collection of art made from found pieces or as he termed it “Junque Art”.  

Dr. Riley’s first art piece was one of twenty-one projects housed at the Museum.  This first piece was a small simple untitled piece labeled by the Museum staff “Flowers in Wooden Shoe” dated 12-31-79.  The piece measures three and one- eighth inches by six and one-fourth inches.  The base of the project is wood to which Dr. Riley attached air-plane metal for the background.  The flowers were cut from the metal and attached to the wooden shoe.  

The items used in the construction of each piece reveal Dr. Riley’s attention to detail in order to complete the project.  Besides the wood for the base and the airplane metal used to cover the base, other items included house siding, beer cans, walnut yoke, pipe cleaners, brads, dowel rods, screw eyes, plastic, copper, polaroid film packs, pyrite, old teeth, popsicle sticks, and to quote the artist “infertile imagination”.  Dr. Riley even made a machine to assist him in making the small metal pieces and the machine is now at the Museum.  

The featured piece of art in the photograph is the “White House - 1916” from the 101 Ranch.  The project was completed in September of 1982.  

All 21 art pieces in the Museum’s collection are on display in the East outside front window of the Museum building.  Several of the pieces demonstrate Dr. Riley’s wicked sense of humor.  The pieces labeled by him as “Nobody’s Perfect” from 1990 and the “Up and Down Catalog Department” are two examples.  

The Grady County Museum is open M-F from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and is located at 415 W. Chickasha Avenue, Chickasha, OK.  For additional information contact 405-224-6480 or gchistorical@att.net.  Also, visit the web-site at www.gradycountyhistorical.org.