History

Butch Anthony: OK in 1994 John Henry Toney was plowing my garden and plowed up a turnip root that had a face in it. 2 eyes, a nose and a mouth, looked just like a man. So he drew a picture of it and gave it to me and i gave it to frank turner who ran a dinky junk shop in Pittsview, and he stuck it in his window as a joke and put a $50 dollar price tag on it. well in about a week some folk art collector came along and bought it. So thats how it all started.

Along about the spring of 1996, Frank Turner, also known as The Mayor of Pittsview, began hosting a little roadside art show. They borrowed a favorite word from artist John Henry Toney, who has now become the patriarch of the event, and the "Doo-Nanny" was born. The first couple of years it was mainly to showcase the art of several local folk artists.....John Henry, Butch, Buddy Snipes, and potter Ned Berry. Then, as other artists found out about the gathering and wider invitations went out, it slowly grew to around twenty or more artists by 2007.

In the meantime, along about 2004, Butch and several other artists had begun putting on a little "movie festival" at butch's farm on the evening of the roadside Doo-Nanny in Pittsview. As both events grew, it became a natural move to join them together into one longer, and wider, event. So, in March, 2008, the first "Doo-Nanny", inclusive of the Woods of Wonder Movie Festival, or WoWFeSt, and including camping, cooking, and showering facilities, was held on the beautiful 80 acre Anthony farm. Frank Turner was scheduled to be the Master of Ceremonies at this "new" event, since he was the original instigator, but fell ill and was not able to attend. Frank passed away later that year, so never got to see the wonderful, expanded experience that grew from his efforts. We thank him, and carry his spirit with us as we grow.

The Doo-Nanny was totally MAGIC. It truly is the “world’s premiere lo-fi art, music and movie festival”. Held in Seale, Alabama on Butch Anthony’s property, it is a gathering of people he finds inspiring. The sky’s the limit for creative expression at the Doo-Nanny.
– Ami Worthen, Mad Tea Party