About the
Gallery: In 1952 the curators of the Bagasse and Gematria Mumblestoats Museum of Depressionist Art were approached by the executors of the estate of the late Gladys Ralston (née Dwindlebimmers) with the invitation to open a sculpture wing as part of a bequest by Mrs. Ralston.
Mrs. Ralston's late husband Abercrombie, heir to the Redbone meat-packing family fortune, had scoured the world searching for items to add to his collection. It was a curious gathering of art because of the determination of both Mr. and Mrs. Ralston to commemorate the unfortunate circumstances under which they had been born. Both had been orphans of undoubtedly shameful parentage, adopted into the Redbone community by prominent, but childless families. Thus the Ralston's collection is famous for having not a single identifiable artist in it, to commemorate their own uncertain origins.
Now this posed a dilemma to the Mumblestoats, since the paintings in the Museum of Depressionist Art were all of well-known, or at least notorious artists. Furthermore, the Ralston's collection did not follow the dedicated theme of Depressionism.
Fortunately, in a burst of generosity, Mrs. Mumblestoats agreed to allow the sculpture wing to operate as a wholly independent part of the Museum, with its own curators and staff. This settled, the "Gladys Dwindlebimmers Ralston Gallery of the Unidentifiable," under the able direction of Dr. Tulip A. Pandowdy, was formally opened on June 14, 1954.
