Raw Vision News

AUSTRIA: EUROPEAN OUTSIDER ART FAIR

May 29-June 1
Outsider Art has recently become an important focus of European art fairs. Following the success of the New York Outsider Art Fair, Vienna, is the European venue for a major event on the other side of the Atlantic. Around 20 museums and galleries are taking part, with the emphasis on European artists alongside wider international participation.

Founded by Huib van den Wijngaard and Sanford Smith, organiser of the New York event, the official opening by the ambassador of the Netherlands takes place on May 28, followed by a preview and gala concert on May 29, with proceeds donated to the Ólóf Foundation, set up to increase the profile of Outsider Art around the world.

Austrian National Library, AURUM (Camineum, Sala Terrena, Atrium), Josefplatz 1, A-1015 Wien, Austria.
t: +31 (0)6 5355 4259
www.eoaf.eu

FRANCE: BRITISH OUTSIDERS IN PARIS

Until August 14
Curated by Julia Elmore and Martine Lusardy, this unique event highlights the wealth of British Outsider Art, with examples of classic artists such as Madge Gill and Scottie Wilson, historical works by psychiatric patients from the collections of Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Art Extraordinary Trust, as well as contemporary works by living Outsider artists such as Albert Louden, Ben Wilson, Nick Blinko, Richard Nie and Vonn Ströpp.

Until August 29
Eloge du Dessin reveals the inner worlds of 20 artists expressed in drawings and sketches, including François Burland, Joël Lorand, Bernard Pruvost, Jean-Luc Giraud, Marcel Katuchevski and others.

Halle Saint Pierre, 2 rue Ronsard, 75018 Paris, France.
t: +33 (0)1 42 58 72 89.
www.hallesaintpierre.com
www.britishoutsiderart.com

USA: DARGER AND HIPKISS AT INTUIT

Until June 28
For nearly 40 years Henry Darger lived and worked in a small Chicago apartment, which housed his vast output of illustrations and collection of hundreds of objects. Intuit took possession of this collection and has created an insight into Darger's personal environment with the Henry Darger Room Collection, exhibiting newspaper clippings, books, personal documents and architectural features, with tours, discussions and workshops.

Until August 30
Haunting, post-apocalyptic visions are displayed in Chris Hipkiss: Drawings, featuring Doddington, the artist's first large-scale piece.

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive & Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622.
t: 312 243 9088.
www.art.org

USA: AFAM AND DARGERISM

Until September 21
Dargerism: Contemporary Artists and Henry Darger looks at Darger's influence on eleven contemporary, trained artists. Works by Darger from the American Folk Art Museum's collection are exhibited with sculpture, drawing, video art, installation and music, as well as painting. The programme includes an artists' panel, talks, lectures and tours.

45 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019.
t: 212 265 1040.
www.folkartmuseum.org

USA: 15TH FOLK FEST

August 15-17
Over 100 galleries from all over the US present self-taught, Outsider and folk art and a significant collection of southern folk pottery at the 15th Annual Folk Fest, which attracts 12,000 visitors each year.

On August 15 visitors can meet special guests including Woodie Long, Charlie Lucas, Michael Crocker, Chris Clark, Lorenzo Scott, Mary Proctor and the Tolliver family.

The North Atlanta Trade Center, Atlanta, GA 30093.
t: 770 532 1115.
www.slotinfolkart.com

USA: MR IMAGINATION

Norman Girardot reports:

In the early morning hours of Sunday, January 20 in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, a devastating fire of unknown origin swept through the three-story duplex home of Mr. Imagination (Gregory Warmack), the famed vernacular artist of recycled materials. Fortunately Mr. I was in Winter Park, Florida, working on a community art project that day and was spared the immediate and dangerous horror of the fire. However the destruction of his home, his amassed artwork of a lifetime, his collection of antiques and other artists' art was overwhelming and almost all-consuming. Even more wrenching was that his beloved black Labrador, Pharaoh, and his five cats died in the blaze.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mr. I has understandably been haunted by bouts of despair and anguish. At the same time, he has witnessed a great outpouring of love and compassion from his immediate community in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley in Chicago, and from friends around the country and the world. Much of the response so far has involved helping him to salvage his art and memories from the charred remains at the fire site. Mr. I must rebuild his life again, and for him this is, of course, an act of art and love. It is also a communal process that involves all who have been touched by his art and spirit. Anyone who is interested in helping with this regenerative process (and there are many kinds of help possible), can find up-to-date information and pictures as well as details of relief efforts at www.misterimagination.com, or email: contactmrimagination@gmail.com.

As we might well imagine about Mr. Imagination, the salvage and retrieval operation is totally and impossibly committed to saving everything - even those charred remains that seem beyond his magic transformative power. This is the power that we all know well - the magic of his hands and the imaginative passion of his eyes. Bottlecaps become jewels. Burned debris becomes art again. From the ashes comes the spark of new life. For those who know Mr. I's talents as a magic gardener of plants, junk, and thrown-away souls, it is significant that even in the depths of desolation there are signs and symbols. The end can be a new beginning.

FOR MORE RAW NEWS AND REVIEWS, SEE RAW VISION #63