Finding God In Garbage: The Visionary Religious Art Of James Hampton

When we think of religious art, we typically conjure up images from the Renaissance—awe-inspiring basilicas with figures almost leaping out of the ceilings, colorful stained glass windows, icons with halos of silver and gold. And while we might imagine Michelangelo painstakingly mixing the perfect colors when we think of art inspired by God, we probably don’t picture a solitary man meticulously sifting through trash.

But this is how the outsider artist James Hampton created what is known today as “The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ General Assembly.” Art critic Robert Hughes wrote that “it may well be the finest work of visionary religious art produced by an American.”

An outsider artist is just what it sounds like, someone whose finger is far from the pulse of the art world. They have no formal training, many times living in solitude and working menial jobs, and they dedicate a majority of their lives to working on their art. It is unfortunately very common for them to go unnoticed until their death, if at all.

Like many other outsider artists, the story of James Hampton and his “Throne” starts at his death. It was 1964 in Washington, D.C., and a landlord was tasked with emptying a carriage house Hampton had been renting from him for the last 14 years. The landlord had no idea what was being stored there, but Hampton had once told him, “That’s my life. I’ll finish it before I die.”

When the landlord opened the large wooden door, he was taken aback by what he saw. The space was filled with approximately 180 pieces consisting of altars, pulpits, crowns, plaques and a seven-foot-tall winged throne, all silver and gold reflecting the light of the bare light bulbs. Closer inspection revealed it was not precious metals catching the light but aluminum foil.

The landlord knew this was someone’s life’s work. “You can’t just destroy something a man devoted himself to for 14 years,” he told a reporter. He reached out to Hampton’s sister, but she had no interest in it. So he decided to reach out to the art world. The acting director of the Smithsonian, Harry Lowe, said the first time he visited Hampton’s work space “it was like opening Tut’s tomb,” and “they didn’t know what it was, or what to call it, but they knew it was something special.”

A Reclusive Life

James Hampton lived such a reclusive life that we know very little about him. The son of a traveling Baptist minister, he was born in Elloree, S.C., in 1909. At the age of 19, he moved with his older brother to Washington, D.C. At the age of 22 he began to have religious visions, perhaps the result of schizophrenia. “This is true,” Hampton wrote of his first vision, “that the great Moses, the giver of the 10th commandment, appeared in Washington, D.C., April 11, 1931.” It was clear to Hampton that these visions were giving him a task, not as an artist but as a prophet. In 1942, he was drafted into the army. He served in a segregated unit that repaired airstrips. Critics believe he constructed his first piece while stationed in Guam in 1945, a small one-by-two-foot altar. That year, he was honorably discharged and returned to Washington, where he found work as a night janitor.

He continued to have visions: “It is true that on October 2, 1946, the great Virgin Mary and the Star of Bethlehem appeared over the nation’s capital,” he wrote. Hampton spent decades working on the “Throne,” giving himself the title “Director of Special Projects for the State of Eternity.” Hampton would work evenings, getting off close to midnight, then would go directly to the carriage house to work on his art piece late into the night. He created it using the only material he had readily available to him, essentially trash and discarded items that he found throughout his workday and during his walks around the city.

Some outsider artists use trash as a medium to make a statement about how wasteful or disposable our society is. This was not, as far we know, Hampton’s intention; he appears to have chosen this medium out of necessity. Being a man of humble means, he had to use whatever he could get his hands on: things like cardboard, burned-out light bulbs, wheels taken off broken office furniture, foil from cigarette packs and candy. Some things he did purchase for the “Throne”: a secondhand table and dresser, construction paper and a lot of aluminum foil. Almost every part of the work is covered in foil.

Although Hampton’s creation is often referred to as simply the “Throne,” it has approximately 180 components. They include 10 crowns, 15 to 20 plaques, winged stands, an altar table, a plaque holder that has been described as “looking suspiciously like a tissue box” and cardboard tags that document his visions throughout the years. He kept a chalkboard for notes. Written on it, among other things, was “The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly” and the phrase “where there is no vision the people perish.”

Perhaps the most mysterious piece is The Book of the 7 Dispensation by St. James, a 150-page book handwritten by Hampton in an indecipherable language now known in art circles as Hamptonese. Linguists and historians have tried to decode it for decades, to no avail. Some believe it is a code, variations of Gullah or African, or the written equivalent of speaking in tongues. Despite continued attempts to crack it, it has remained impenetrable.

Hampton’s “Throne” represents three parts of the Bible. The left side represents the Old Testament, the right side the New Testament. The sides mirror each other; each piece has a corresponding one on the opposite side. In the center is the throne itself, representing the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. Hampton built it as a bench for Christ to judge us from during the second coming. Although I do not believe it was his intention, it seems oddly fitting and profound for Jesus to judge us while seated on the trash we have polluted the earth with. Even though the Book of Revelation and the second coming are easily the most terrifying part of the Bible, Hampton reassures us with two familiar words hovering above the throne: “FEAR NOT.”

Hampton’s work was a perfect counterbalance for his time and place. He was an African American janitor living in Washington, D.C., during the peak of the civil rights movement. Washington is at its core a monument created by white men to celebrate the power held by white men. And they achieve this by using building materials that can stand the test of time. Hampton, as far as society was concerned, was powerless, yet he spent decades of his life creating a monument to something bigger and more powerful than humanity. And he did this using a temporary material. In fact, the “Throne” is so delicate that it has to be repaired almost every time it is loaned out. It is poetic that he used such a disposable material, considering the throne’s intended purpose. The Book of Revelation tells us that we live in a temporary world, a world made for ending.

Why does this matter? What do the visions (some would say delusions) of a janitor who died almost 60 years ago have to do with any of us today? I have found that James Hampton has taught and inspired me a lot since I stumbled upon his story one day on YouTube during the Covid-19 lockdown. Maybe the lesson of his life is that you don’t need power or wealth or education to create something great; that you don’t need people’s approval to do what you love. It seems to me that Hampton is a true reflection of the Jesuit motto “for the greater glory of God”: He dedicated decades to living his life this way.

Hampton teaches us an easier lesson, too, a lesson about not always taking things at face value. Maybe the people and things we find dull or ordinary or beneath us can have a much greater value than we ever thought. Hampton teaches us to find God in all things around us, even in the things we toss aside.

“The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly” is housed in the Galleries for Folk and Self-Taught Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. The galleries are temporarily closed but are scheduled to reopen to the public in early 2023.

20 Of The Most Bizarre Stories From The Bible

By Originally published on LiveScience of Live Science |

Slide 1 of 21: From a talking donkey to a man being eaten by a giant fish, the Bible has no shortage of strange stories. In her new book "A Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible" (Oxford University Press, 2021), Kristin Swenson, an associate professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, delves into these stories and many others. Here's a look at 20 of the more bizarre biblical stories that Swenson discusses in the book. Some, such as Jonah being eaten by a giant fish, refer to important archaeological sites, like Nineveh, an ancient Assyrian city in modern-day northern Iraq. Others, such as that of a literal scapegoat, explain how phrases that are commonly used in modern times came into existence. By Owen Jarus

From a talking donkey to a man being eaten by a giant fish, the Bible has no shortage of strange stories. In her new book "A Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible" (Oxford University Press, 2021), Kristin Swenson, an associate professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, delves into these stories and many others. Here's a look at 20 of the more bizarre biblical stories that Swenson discusses in the book. Some, such as Jonah being eaten by a giant fish, refer to important archaeological sites, like Nineveh, an ancient Assyrian city in modern-day northern Iraq. Others, such as that of a literal scapegoat, explain how phrases that are commonly used in modern times came into existence.

By Owen Jarus

The Public Pulse: Conspiracy And Lies; More Important Than A Streetcar

Conspiracy and lies

“No man is above the law.” That is what Gerald Ford said when a Congressional House committee brought charges of impeachment against Richard Nixon. Today’s House committee has brought their findings of lies, deceit, bribery and failure to carry out Constitutional responsibilities against Donald Trump. There was no stolen election, there were no conspiracies, only one man who wanted power at the cost of our electoral votes and our democracy. Let him be held accountable for the grievous wrongs he has committed.

Pension fund

We don’t live in Douglas County, but if we did, I would support a bond issue to support shoring up the pension fund vs. The streetcar. Seems to me the mayor and city council are about the only ones favoring it. From my point of view, it is a novelty vs. A necessity. The ORBT buses are vacant for the most part and extended ones at that.

People are also reading…

The city has made a commitment to the employees who provide for the safety of the Omaha people and that is much more important than a streetcar. Seems to me somebody(s) has their priorities out of order.

Sooner or later

The proposed streetcar project will no doubt require taxpayer dollars sooner or later, whether it be for the original construction or future maintenance. It is also obvious that the streetcar is not beneficial to the entire — or even the majority of the — general public.

Therefore, this poses a question: Should the Omaha taxpayers be given the opportunity via a vote to determine if this project is worth the additional taxes that will be encumbered sooner or later?

I would recommend that the council and city attorney look into this.

Called to more

The Dec. 17 Pulse letters from Michael McClellan (“Revised gender policy”) and Rev. Sarah Dickinson (“God-given gifts”) claim Omaha Archdiocesan Catholic Schools are not following Jesus by requiring the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexuality and gender be respected by students and parents. These two letters make it clear that many professed Christians prefer the pop culture Jesus instead of the biblical and historical Jesus. Pop culture Jesus is “nice” and allows us to “love” passively by letting others as well as ourselves do what we want or feel like doing, lest we offend our and each other’s sacred feelings. It does not take much reading in the Bible to discover that biblical Jesus loves deeply but is not “nice.” Biblical Jesus loves us and wants the best for us, warning us to leave sin behind and strive for perfection in order to attain heaven. He verbally assaults those leading God’s people to perdition, which is certainly not nice. Biblical Jesus is radical. I find it ironic that the Rev. Dickinson used the passage Galatians 5:22-23 to claim gender dysphoric individuals have no cross to bear. This passage clearly lists self control as a gift of the spirit. People doing whatever they wish do not display this gift. The passage also states that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh and its desires. We are called to more than our own self pleasure.

Robert Steffen, Hartington, Nebraska

Freedom of speech

Pertaining to the Omaha World Herald article “Gay marriage signed into law” on Dec. 14, I have a question: Will I be able to continue believing that a marriage should be between a man and a woman, or will I be considered hateful if I do continue with this belief? As quoted from President Biden, “This law and the love it defends strike a blow against hate in all its forms.”

I do not hate people who want to get married as a woman to a woman or a man to a man or whatever, but I would disagree with it. My fear is that people will not be able to have or voice an opinion about marriage without being called a hateful person. I would be friends with any of these people, listening to their stories, caring for them, but I am somewhat fearful to voice my opinions because I may be labeled hateful. It isn’t so much that I am afraid of the label as what that label can breed or produce, more hate.

When I was younger, today I’m 69, I believe that it was generally accepted in America that people could have differing opinions without the fear of being called names, being accused of hatred, or fearing the loss of a job etc.

Sadly, today I feel it has changed, and that is an attack against freedom of speech. All the fears listed above are acts of coercion. Coercion only breeds more hate and doesn’t change anyone’s mind. Can we love one another, listen to one another, respect our opinions without prejudgment?

Honestly, I am a bit fearful of signing my name at the end of this letter because of hatred, please don’t hate without really knowing me.

Pulse writers continue to weigh in on the new Husker football head coach.

Pulse writers sound off on all things Nebraska football.

Pulse writers weigh in on the pros and cons of voter ID in Nebraska.

Pulse writer says the acts of some "professed" Christians, are giving other Christians a bad name.

Pulse writer has questions regarding the purpose and implementation of Voter ID.

Pulse writer says students need daily math and reading instruction to thrive academically.

Pulse writers express their opinions on Deb Fischer's vote against enshrining protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.

Pulse writer says Holocaust education provides important lessons about humanity.

Pulse writer ponders the idea of shortening the timeframe for political campaigning and fundraising.

Pulse writer praises the Holland concert that featured members of eight Omaha area high school choirs along with the Omaha Symphony.

Pulse writer wonders if society has accepted bullying and name-calling as normal.

Pulse writer responds to the article on Elkhorn North High School basketball player Britt Prince.

Pulse writer encourages support for local journalism.

Pulse writer praises Harold and Marian Anderson for co-founding "Shakespeare on the Green."

Pulse writer relishes in the the end of the election season.

Pulse writers give their thoughts and memories on being a veteran and Veteran's Day.

Pulse writer says Nebraska election laws are poorly written and outdated.

Pulse writer is dismayed the Millard School Board is floating the idea of a district vote to allow continuing the property tax override.

Pulse writer thanks all that contributed financially to the restoration of Nebraska highways which honors all United States military serving or who have served.

Pulse writer give praise for Omaha film historian Bruce Crawford's classic film series.

Pulse writer says if the idea of the trolley is to serve all of Omaha then it should be re-routed.

Pulse writers say Mickey Joseph is the right hire for head football coach at NU.

Pulse writer laments on the demolition of Omaha's downtown library.

Pulse writers weigh in on candidates and issues prior to the Nov. 8 general election.

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Finding God In Garbage: The Visionary Religious Art Of James Hampton