PLEASE NOTE BEFORE VIEWING:
This section will cover work AND interests from 1946 through February 1972. FOUR IMAGES per page. Some images may be enlarged twice. Viewing sequence beginning with the latest, ending with the earliest.
This section will take considerable time to upload as images and provenance's are attained.

This PRE-DoV work will be principally chronological as there was considerable overlapping of ideas AND focus. A cafeteria education, multiple conflicting interests, voluntary military service, numerous non-art jobs and quasi-careers until 1975, facile skills; ever evolving esthetic, reading, philosophic, political and personality influences; affairs of the heart and groin, time, early quest/need for money, ongoing immaturity, reactionary behavior toward early galleries and an inconsistent FOCUS make up the unraveling thread of this section.

Still, I think there is a thread leading from my early obsession with the phenomenon-of-a-line, no doubt from math and architectural drawing classes, and all of the foregoing, thus finding/developing the DoV System Concepts March 7, 1972.

BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   Bonded & rusted resins on carpet tubes and rusted chain on a rolling plinth
Milton Friedman At Work (destroying South America)
1970-'71 ©
Bonded & rusted resins on carpet tubes and rusted chain on a rolling plinth
74 x 96 x 48"

A series begun to critique the damage done by Milton Friedman and his disciples throughout South & Central America and Africa, using the Burgers of Calais as the inspiration of the chaining as Friedman's IMF had done.

DESTROYED in a pre-prozac rage by the artist. Very sorry I did this.
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated, burnished & polished 85-3-5 bronze
Conquistador, ed 2/5 (view 2)
1970 ©
patinated, burnished & polished 85-3-5 bronze
12 x 6 x 5"

Head/Helmet Series

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated, polished and burnished 85-3-5 bronze
Conquistador, ed 3/5 (view 1)
1970 ©
patinated, polished and burnished 85-3-5 bronze
12 x 6 x 5"

Head/Helmet Series
editions 1, 2, 4:
Private COLLECTIONS, whereabouts unknown
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated silicon bronze
Boris Twistanoff, maquette, ed 3/10
1970 ©
patinated silicon bronze
4 1/4" high

Head/Helmet Series
Intended to be enlarge, approximately 12" high
Editions 1 & 2/10:
Private COLLECTIONS

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated 85-3-5 bronze
Top Hat Smoker, maquette, ed 3/10
1971 ©
patinated 85-3-5 bronze
4" high

Head/Helmet Series
Intended to be enlarged to approximately 12" high
Editions 1 & 2/10:
Private COLLECTIONS
Photo image of the wax before bronze casting
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated 85-3-5 bronze
Captain Hornblower, maquette ed 1/10
1969 ©
patinated 85-3-5 bronze
4" high

Head/Helmet Series
Intended to be enlarged to 12"
Editions 1 thru 4:
Private COLLECTIONS

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   burnished & polished stainless steel
V.A. FOGG, ed 1/3 (view 1)
1970 ©
burnished & polished stainless steel
4 x 16 x 4 1/2"

Response to the sinking of the merchant ship, V.A. Fogg, off the coast of Galveston, TX. No survivors.
My wife wrote and article on this for the Galveston Daily News.
COLLECTIONS, all private, all editions
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   burnished & polished stainless steel
V.A. FOGG, ed 1/3 (view 2)
1970 ©
burnished & polished stainless steel
4 x 16 x 4 1/2"

Response to the sinking of this merchant ship off the coast of Galveston, TX, following an article my wife wrote, Galveston Daily News

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   studio floorboards, enameled pine plinth, coffee cans mixing dowels & five grades of latex rubber
Tableaux DIRTY Floor
1969 ©
studio floorboards, enameled pine plinth, coffee cans mixing dowels & five grades of latex rubber
9 x 36 x 36"

Lued Series (anti-coathanger abortion Dominionists PRO: Planned Parenthood)
Latex mixing cans with mixing dowels & run-off with a cast latex loaf, representing coat-hanger birth control imposed by males
DESTROYED in the take-down of Bott's Blue-Barn-On-Barnes,5/2014
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   bonded iron on wood
New Braunfels Dive, maquette III
1968 ©
bonded iron on wood
Approximately 12" high

This was the final maquette for a commission that fell through. intended to be 12' tall, welded steel.
Funding committee refused to accept the donation for the commission memorializing the donors daughter.

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   oxidized bonded steel on wood
New Braunfels DIVER maquette
1968 ©
oxidized bonded steel on wood
12" high for a 12' enlargement

A memorial commission that fell through due to community politics.
This initial maquette passed the grounds committee, based on a pick-up sticks in mode of falling as a diver would move. asked to simplify, ending with Maquette III.
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated 85-3-5 bronze
NAPOLEON II, ed1/5 (view 1)
1968, cast 1970 ©
patinated 85-3-5 bronze
21 x 12 x 12" including rotating plinth

Head/Helmet Series
ed 1/5, Private COLLECTION

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated silicon bronze
NAPOLEON II, ed 3/5 (view 2)
1968 cast 1971 ©
patinated silicon bronze
21 x 12 x 12"

Head/Helmet Series
ed 3/5, Private COLLECTION
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated silicon bronze
NAPOLEON II, ed 2/5 (view 3)
1968 cast 1971 ©
patinated silicon bronze
21 x 12 x 12"

Head/Helmet Series
COLLECTION: the Drs. Angela Belcher and David
Boston, MA

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   Fiberglass and resin dyes
Earth Mama
1967 ©
Fiberglass and resin dyes
18 x 6 1/2 x 6"

Fetal Form Series
Casting not realized until 1970.
Originally intended as an edition of three. Only one cast.
Private COLLECTION:
Whereabouts unknown
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   polychromed and polished stainless steel
UNITY maquette (view 1)
1964 ©
polychromed and polished stainless steel
29 x 32' diameter

Competition entry for Hemisfair 1968, San Antonio, TX, to be the logo. Actual logo was a direct spin-off, top view, of this entry.
COLLECTION: estate of
Albert Shakis, Houston, TX

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   polychromed and polished stainless steel
UNITY maquette (view 2)
1965 ©
polychromed and polished stainless steel
29 x 32" diameter

Original cast in aluminum in 1965, wax saved and cast 1970. Unity theme based on the five ethnic
"colors' of man: brown, red, yellow, black & white.
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated bronze on Formica™ plinth
Elliot's Bird
1966 ©
patinated bronze on Formica™ plinth
5 x 3 1/2 x 3 1/2"

simply a wax doodle cast in bronze
COLLECTION: the artist's wife,
Dee Dee Bott, Houston, TX

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   acrylics on etched scored MDF
TRACERIES
1965
acrylics on etched scored MDF
22 x 18"

Lineation Format Series
COLLECTION of the artist's wife, Margaret (Dee Dee) Bott, Houston, TX
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   dyed  and polished hydrocal
OUTCRY
1964 ©
dyed and polished hydrocal
4 1/2 x 16 x 4"

Reaction to politics in Central America under the IMF crush
Private COLLECTION:
whereabouts unknown

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   wood lathing, industrial mesh, steel armature and high-finish concrete
Kleberg Lion (view 1)
1960
wood lathing, industrial mesh, steel armature and high-finish concrete
11 1/2 x 25 x 10'

Kleberg Park, Kingsville, Tx. Winning design, competition for play sculpture sponsored by the Lions Club, of course, through the Art Dept of Texas A & I University, Kingsville, TX. Constructed by sculpture students under the direction of Ben Bailey, about 1966.
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   wood lath, industrial mesh, steel armature & high-finish concrete
Kleberg Lion (view 2)
1960
wood lath, industrial mesh, steel armature & high-finish concrete
11 1/2 x 25 x 10'

Kleberg Park, Kingsville, TX, play sculpture, sponsored by the Lions Club, of course, of Kingsville, TX

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   wax dyes on hydrocal
Daughter
1960 ©
wax dyes on hydrocal
approx. 7" high

modeled from two snapshots
Original: whereabouts unknown
Plaster cast COLLECTION: the artist
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal dust, oil paint, glue, thread, yarn
Sphere XV
1956 ©
charcoal dust, oil paint, glue, thread, yarn
25 3/4 " diameter

LINE tangle experiments while stationed in Germany
COLLECTION: estate of Genevieve Arnold, Atlanta, GA

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   graphite dust, tempera
Sphere XI
1956 ©
graphite dust, tempera
28 1/4 " diameter

Line tangle experiments
"LOST" in closing of Madison Gallery, NYC, 1963
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   pastel dust, glue, thread, oil paint
Sphere X
1956 ©
pastel dust, glue, thread, oil paint
37 1/4 " diameter

Tangle of lines experiments with spheres.
CRUSHED in shipment to USA, 1956

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   graphite, pastel, thread, string, oil paint
Sphere VIII
1956 ©
graphite, pastel, thread, string, oil paint
21 " diameter

Sphere experiments
COLLECTION: Alex Kimarley, Munich, Germany
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   Pastel dust on glued thread, oil paint
Sphere VII
1956 ©
Pastel dust on glued thread, oil paint
42" diameter

Threads and string experiments while stationed in Germany.
"LOST" in the closing of Madison Gallery, NYC, 1963

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   graphite, charcoal and pastel dust on glued thread, oil paint
Sphere V
1955-'56 ©
graphite, charcoal and pastel dust on glued thread, oil paint
31" diameter

Tangle experiments with lines from masking tape, string and thread while stationed in Germany
COLLECTION: Patrick Rooney, Montreal, Canada
photo via Minox
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   enamel washes on india ink on plyboard
Playing With Perspective
1955 ©
enamel washes on india ink on plyboard
12 1/2 x 30"

Only extant image of this series done in Germany
Private COLLECTION, whereabouts unknown

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
Into the Core
9/1952 ©
charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
Donna & Igor Alexander, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
ALTERATIONS
6/1952 ©
charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
9 13/16 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
estate of Henry J.N. Taub, Houston
photo; Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   masking tape on black-crepe tape on paper
Three Layers
6/1952 ©
masking tape on black-crepe tape on paper
8 1/16 x 9 3/4 "

From Art center School Of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Raymond Helinski,
Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
Justify Balance
6/1952 ©
charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
8 1/16 x 9 3/4 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Alvin S. Romansky Prints Accessions Endowment Fund
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal on masking tape on black crepe tape on paper
Diagonal Box
6/1952 ©
charcoal on masking tape on black crepe tape on paper
9 13/16 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Dr. Carlos Bacino, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal and graphite on masking and black crepe tapes on paper
Advocate Balance
6/1952 ©
charcoal and graphite on masking and black crepe tapes on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
estate of Henry J.N. Taub, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   masking, black-crepe & cellophane tapes on paper
Half Gloss
6/1952
masking, black-crepe & cellophane tapes on paper
8 1/16 x 9 3/4 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: private
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal on masking tape on paper
Faking Symmetry
6/1952 ©
charcoal on masking tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
Anita & David B. Garten, Houston, TX & San Ramon, CA
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
L-R/T-B
6/1952 ©
charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
8 1/16 x 9 3/4 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Bob McClain, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   masking and black-crepe tape on paper
Avoid Authority
6/1952 ©
masking and black-crepe tape on paper
8 1/16 x 9 13/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Gundi McCandless, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal nad graphite on masking tape on paper
AN'
6/1952 ©
charcoal nad graphite on masking tape on paper
8 1/16 x 9 3/4 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
Allison & David Ayers, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   graphite on masking and black-crepe tape on paper
From a Sketchbook
6/1952 ©
graphite on masking and black-crepe tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: David Brauer, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   graphite on masking & cellophane tape on paper
Scotchline
5/1952 ©
graphite on masking & cellophane tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Dee Dee Bott, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
Avoid Crinkles
4/1952 ©
charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
9 13/16 x 8 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Maria Inés Sicardi, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   Charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
Look Up
4/1952 ©
Charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
Dr. & Mrs. Miro-Quesada, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   Charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
Horizontals
4/9/1952 ©
Charcoal and graphite on masking tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: George Kelly, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   Graphite, Charcoal on masking tape on paper
Diagonal Squares
3/21/1952 ©
Graphite, Charcoal on masking tape on paper
8 1/16 x 9 3/4 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION:
Anita & David B. Garten, Houston, TX and San Ramon, CA
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   masking tape and graphite on paper
EDGES
3/21/1952 ©
masking tape and graphite on paper
9 13/16 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Maria Inés Sicardi, Houston
photo:
Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   masking tape and charcoal on paper
Can't Cant
3/21/1952 ©
masking tape and charcoal on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16"

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Maria Inés Sicardi,
Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   electrical tape on paper
13 Horizontals on the Verticle
3/20/1952 ©
electrical tape on paper
9 3/4 x 8 1/16 "

From Art Center School of LA entry portfolio
COLLECTION: Celia Horton, Houston
photo: Hans Staartjes ©

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   patinated bronze
Fallen
1950 ©
patinated bronze
7 x 7 1/4 x 2 1/2" including plinth

An early bronze casting, supervised by Dr. Waldine A. Tauch at the Coppini Academy, San Antonio,TX
Whereabouts unknown
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   sandstone
START, view 1
1948 ©
sandstone
5 x 16 x 4 "

First stylized figure. Extensive repairs with bonded sand. Originally in the collection of my parents. Another deviation from my focus on "concrete art" and architecturally oriented objectives. (more @ view 2) COLLECTION;
the artist's wife, Dee Dee Bott, Houston, Tx

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   sandstone, extensive repairs with resinated sand
START, view 2
1948 ©
sandstone, extensive repairs with resinated sand
5 x 16 x 4 " excluding the base

First stylized figuration. Stylization picked up again late 1950's and early 1960's from NYC gallery interest and sales.
COLLECTION: the artist's wife,
Dee Dee Bott, Houston, Tx
HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   originally in wax pellets then patinated bronze
Fertility
1946 & 1950 ©
originally in wax pellets then patinated bronze
approx. 20" high

After reading about lost-wax casting, 1946, build-up of wax pellets done with the hopes of casting in bronze. With classes at the Coppini Academy, this was accomplished four years later.
COLLECTION: Waldine A. Tauch estate. Photo: Dr Waldine Tauch

HJ BOTT  BEFORE DoV; earlier than March 7, 1972   shoe polish & bronze powder on cast plaster (probably hydrocal)
Warrior
1946 ©
shoe polish & bronze powder on cast plaster (probably hydrocal)
Life-size, approximately 16" high

Whereabouts unknown. Originally belonging to my parents with various other busts and figures of this period, experimenting with various means of multi-part plaster casting from clay, soap and wood originals dating back to 1941.
Photo; Marcus Maspero ©