Outsider Art at Beverly Kaye Gallery

Laura James: Praying Out Loud

2011-05-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

With an Antiguan heritage and a love of subject matter, both secular and religious, self-taught artist Laura James has made quite a splash in the art world. In the year 2000, she completed thirty four images commissioned by the Catholic Church for their new version of The Book of Gospels. Each of these inclusive and magnificent paintings, which were first on display at the Divinity School at Yale University in New Haven, CT, have been sold. So have all her works in a series called Nannies and Other Mothers.

A new body of work featuring goddesses, such as the revered Mami Wata, and guardian angels, has just been delivered to the gallery and will be here through July. This is a rare opportunity to see an entire body of Laura James' paintings, and her elegant presentation copy of The Book of Gospels will be on display during this show.

The Baron Paints a Life Remembered

2011-05-05T06:01:00.000-07:00

Baron Corso de Palenzuela was only 8 years old when his titled family fled Cuba to avoid Batista's corruption. The trauma of this sudden and unexpected move from their beloved homeland has remained with de Palenzuela and is clearly evident in his art. His memory paintings, depicting the family's luxurious life in Cuba, illustrate both love and loss for Corso the child, and haunting fragments of memory still carried by Corso the adult.

In his paintings, the main figures are always large and in the foreground, flat in perspective, often flanked by both armed soldiers and the lush vegetation of this tropical paradise. White deer, called Dama Dama, almost forced into extinction because of their prized flesh, white peacocks whose feathers are decorated with gold coins from the family's fortune, white dogs both prized for their hunting skills and their devotion as family pets, enormous fields filled with sunflowers, cocoa and tobacco, and mother tending to her gardens, fill de Palenzuela's colorful canvases.

There is a strong folk aesthetic to this unschooled work which has been shown at the American Visionary Art Museum, The Miami Fine Art Museum, The Jewish Museum in NY, The Havana Municipal Museum, and Vassar College. The artist's spiritual side, reflecting his Sephardic heritage, is depicted in powerful biblical paintings with illustrative text. Corso de Palenzuela says, “I’m religious, but I don’t believe in institutional religion. I’m more of a mystic.” These wonderful paintings are mystical indeed! Most of the work is painted in oil on random shaped boards, often surrounded with framing constructed to protect these vivid and cherished memories. There are fascinating stories told in each work and a goodly amount of the vintage pieces are still in the artist's personal collection.

Edward Gomez wrote of de Palenzuela in Raw Vision magazine, these paintings go “…far beyond the Cuban-American dominated zones of Miami and South Florida reflecting both increasing and broader popular interest in Latin-American culture in general, and the ever-widening scope of the Outsider Art world, where interest in styles, techniques or themes associated with particular peoples or places has significantly enriched appreciation of the genre.” De Palenzuela's work has also received glowing write-ups in the New York Times on four occasions.

Vintage and current works by Corso de Palenzuela are now available at the Beverly Kaye Gallery in Woodbridge, CT tel: 203 387 5700

Building Upon Building.....

2011-03-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

Eric Rosner's art work has captured New York's architecture in it's earliest days, when no detail was left to chance and buildings were embellished like wedding cakes. He has preserved this elegant past for the last 20 years in both ink drawings and canvas prints, so the history of this beloved city will live on beyond the crumbling facades of today. In Rosner's own words, "I find myself thinking of all the people who have graced this grand Metropolis and these buildings have housed them all. Whether it was epic business transactions, stunning scientific discoveries or grand entertainment showcasing, the city of New York has a unique tale of histories. With my artwork, I hope you can imagine a stunning time period over a century ago when the imagination ran wild and magnificent structures soared to the sky. "

Sometimes, Rosner's work can be seen executed on the outside of the buildings as well as inside them. His work has been shown at the Affordable Art Fair, the Tribeca Lounge and the Argos Tea House in NY and recently at the Chelsea Hotel. This self-taught artist recently decided to sell his original artworks. Pieces range from 6" x 6" to 60" x 60". I cannot imagine living in a New York apartment without one of these very prepossessing works on the wall. Any one of these drawings would have been the perfect cover for Joseph Mitchell's "Up In The Old Hotel", one of my favorite books.

Self-taught Photographer, Redux

2011-02-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

When the Metropolitan Museum of Art presented a photography show, one of Daniel Farber's reflection photographs was used as the banner advertisement. This self-taught photographer, in the leather business with his brothers, started making his art later in his life. The results of this hobby, turned obsession, are held in over 123 museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, The Smithsonian, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Yale University Museum, and so on.

He also had his images used in the movie "Tommy", as well as on the covers of multiple classical music albums. Farber was named one of the top ten photographers in the decade from the 1960's through 70's, and his nature photographs are in many private collections. Since he utilized the process called color separation, these vintage images are as brilliant today as they were when they were first printed.

A book of his images called "Reflections on a Trail Taken", published in 1991, is a stunning record of his photography with very interesting text. Farber generously revealed all his camera, film and exposure information and gave very helpful pointers on how to create similar images.

Silhouettes of winter trees, starkly portrayed in black and white, were among his favorite subjects and photo-silkscreens were made of several of these striking images. A small portfolio of them (image size 16" x 16", printed on Arches paper) are now available, each of which is published, and several of which are held in permanent museum collections. Contact the Beverly Kaye Gallery for more information.

Anyone Can Dine With the Queen

2011-01-29T06:35:00.000-08:00

Therese James has a zest for life paired with a sense of humor, which is evident in each of her paintings. Her work would be considered Naive, and since 1993 she has given in to a compulsion to paint full time. She records scenes of everyday life with an unbounded joy which makes the viewer feel like jumping in to join the fun. Therese gets much of her inspiration from the places and literature of her native Wales and the West Country.

According to her bio, "Relying purely on an instinctive approach to her art she has developed her own style with representative characters who inhabit the world of her paintings." A simple seashore scene, double decker red busses in traffic, or even a family sharing their Christmas dinner with the Queen (on TV of course), become fodder for a new painting. Her subjects move at angles and dance across the canvas in a dizzying tango. Her work can be seen in galleries throughout the UK and she is represented in the Affordable Art Fairs by Wren Fine Art, and was selected for the prestigious "Artist of the Year" award.

Perry Morgan lives, loves, and paints New Orleans

2010-10-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

Savannah, Ga. born artist, Perry Morgan 111, has an MA in psychology and is a winner of the Absolute Vodka Art Search. He has successfully owned an art gallery on Magazine Street, a very well known New Orleans haunt, and he's employed as an artist by the House of Blues, which boasts the largest folk and self-taught collection in the US. Quite a varied resume!

Mr. Morgan has worked in clay, assemblage, painted silk, canvas, and wood. He paints his own frames and has a friend construct them. His works clearly reflect the melting pot that is New Orleans, and the joyfulness of his immersion in the music, art and architecture there is apparent. I will let these very appealing works speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Beauty from The Earth

2010-10-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Of all Pueblo pottery, the thin walled storage jugs, medicine bowls, seed jars and canteens from Acoma, have reigned supreme. For over 600 years the residents of this pueblo, also known as Sky City, in the western desert of New Mexico, have gathered local clay from secret areas, and shards from old pottery. After traditional and tedious methods, they have turned this gift from Mother Earth into pottery which holds it's head high in the field of hand made art. Special stones are ground with native vegetation to create a paint which is then applied with brushes made from local plants, chewed down to a few long strands. After air drying, the pots are dung fired and with a prayer are pronounced complete.

The earth tone color at the bottom of many of these pots and the thin black and white lines denoting rain and thunderclouds are familiar iconography used by the artisans here. Each Pueblo has their own symbols. Some of the contemporary makers have included designs from their ancestors after having been introduced to these Mimbres symbols at local museums. Both men and woman create pots here on top of and in the three small towns at the foot of Sky City, and they are among the finest in the world. More examples can be seen by clicking on the title.

Ronald Sloan's Situation.........

2010-08-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Ronald Sloan has been obsessively painting his private world for over forty years. An examination of this almost intact, and vast body of work, exposes an alternate reality painted in a masterful and unique style. The human figure, deconstructed and then reconstructed into skeletal form, often exists in a world of fear, pain, trauma and sexual abuse. Geometric figures, grids, boxes, far off center lines, and numbers appear hand in hand with quasi human figures struggling to make sense of an unsettling world. The disturbing themes share the canvas with recurring symbols of comfort. The mathematical elements, along with tropical vegetation, and an extraordinary talent for laying down paint in a seductive manner give you a reprieve, allowing you to catch your breath, and gather courage to look once more.

Each painting is a mini drama, audience not required. Ronald Sloan paints his world to survive yet one more day in it. On the canvas, survival often depends upon being both mute and deaf. Mother is portrayed with her mouth covered, unable to speak out about the untenable life she leads. In one painting, words warn, "Do not HEAR the Forest Burning." The inclusion of explanatory text offers precious access to this curious reality. In response to questions about the nature or purpose of his work, Ronald simply states, "I paint."

Iranian Woman Artist, despite all odds......

2010-07-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

When a sixty year old Iranian woman, named Akram Sarkhti, illiterate, traditional, and in an arranged marriage, finds a way to create art, we all must applaud. She started painting ten years ago and poignantly portrays her hard life, her remembered childhood and all her dreams of a better future. Fortunately she has a benefactor in the name of Rokhsareh Ghaema, who is making a documentary film about Akram and trying to find a European venue in which to have an exhibition of this remarkable body of work. The film maker can be reached at the following e-mail address if any of you can help to facilitate this process. "Roxareh@yahoo.ca"

Akram was married to a 30 year old man when she was 9 years old, and her husband did not allow her to go to school. She painted to calm herself and when her son found the paintings he was astonished. Some of the work has been sold to the Tehran Contemporary Art Museum, but need to be seen by a wider audience.

The three images I have chosen to post are called My Engagement Day, My Wedding Day, and Conversation. How easily we take for granted our freedoms, and how painful to hear of our sisters in foreign lands living a feudal life in the 21st century. Two of my next door neighbors, who are women from Iran, are both highly educated and are medical doctors. A flip of the penny.......

Sculpture in The Garden show 2010

2010-06-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

Despite the bleak economy, the oil spill and the troubles in the Middle East, I am forging ahead and planning the 17th annual Sculpture in The Garden show. People need art, they need to see it, touch it, and experience it in a garden on a lovely day. So I have invited ten outstanding self-taught artists who use recycled materials to participate in this show. Out of junk yard finds, old car and truck parts, ancient tools, wire and stone, they have forged objects of desire and delight. There will be life sized horses standing side by side with musicians, rare birds, stone heads, robots, slate garden signs, and so much more. Prepare to be astonished, and bring the whole family.

Eddie Wood's Clay Creations....

2010-05-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

The serpent never looked so beguiling, nor the apple so appealing. The figures of Christ in the tomb and on the cross elicit an immediate response. These are works beyond the ordinary. The artist, Eddie Wood, age 43, is a very talented man, yet he only started making his sculptures in Louisiana, a year ago. He loves patina so after the clay base is completed and hardened, he adds many layers of paint and touches of gold leaf to his work. Besides these exciting mixed media creations, he also paints seascapes with a very sophisticated eye. This is an artist to watch!

A Mother's story

2010-05-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

Please read this Mother's story about a son whose school suggested he work in a sheltered workshop making nylon pot scrubbers. Hat's off to all Mother's who hold on to a dream for their children and have the fortitude to never let go.

"Michael Jurogue Johnson is entirely self taught. When he graduated from a special education

public school at the age of 21 he didn't want anyone telling him what to do! He learned how to

paint and in 1999 a young couple wanted him to paint portraits of their dogs. They kept sending photographs of their dogs laying around in the garden. Finally Michael did an oil painting of their dogs playing on the beach. He could get a pretty good likeness as long as he could paint his own ideas. Since 2000 he has painted more than 500 portraits of pets, children, houses, a few older people and racehorses. The portraits and the illustration jobs have expanded his subject matter and have challenged him to develop new techniques.

Michael works in oils, acrylics and watercolors. He has no fear of a blank paper or canvas, he just starts painting. He uses bright colors freely and naturally. The colors don't clash, they harmonize. He paints from a cheerful and innocent point of view. He has a limited grasp of perspective but a great eye for detail. Forget washes! Michael wants to paint every blade of grass, every leaf on the tree and every pebble on the beach. He likes to paint all day long and listen to music.

Painting is his job, not his hobby. He sells from his website and has been painting for 17 years.

You can see his current work at: http://www.artistmichaeljohnson.com"

Blood Horse gave Michael many magazines so he could study the physicality of the horses and when he picked up his brush to paint, the work was amazing. The Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan auctioned off the paintings and raised a large amount of money with Michael's art. So much for the school which wanted him to go into a sheltered workshop and make nylon pot scrubbers the rest of his life! Happy Mother's Day to his mom, Robin from an art dealer who was also blessed with a Mother who understood her love of art.

Purvis Young, RIP

2010-04-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

Years ago, as many private dealers are wont to do, I participated in a folk art tour, which included a dealer's row. Translation, all dealers registered at the show were placed on the same floor and were allowed to set up their rooms as booths. It was a bustling and affluent crowd and many paintings and sculpture were sold. Across the hall from my room was dealer Jimmy Hedges, Rising Fawn Folk Art from Tennessee, who brought with him an artist from Miami who he had great faith in, rightly so. Late one of the nights, the artist slipped out for a bit of fresh air. He had been painting and speaking with collectors all day. When he tried to return into the hotel, he was stopped by the staff. Refused reentry. He was a poor, black man, and didn't seem "a fit" with the guards. Eventually the artist, Purvis Young, was allowed access to his room.

He died yesterday of a heart attack after a kidney transplant, dialysis, and a long fight against diabetes. He died as a world renown and deeply loved artist. He was a genius, a loving soul, and a keen reporter of life in Overtown, a slum neighborhood in Miami where he lived his life and created masterpieces from recycled materials and paint. His access into museums was a much easier ride than his access back into that hotel. For all who had the pleasure of knowing Purvis, either personally or through his art, I share your pain, and am brokenhearted.

Sculpture in the Garden Show, 2010

2010-04-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

It's almost time! Kids are getting restless, their parents are eyeing their gardens, searching for an empty, but deserving spot. Childless collectors practice their best "I've just come to look" faces, and the fun begins! The annual Sculpture in the Garden Show featuring works of art made from recycled materials and junk yard finds, is almost upon us. Here's a sneak peek at the ad which will be published in the stunning and delightful international art magazine called Raw Vision. The issue will be out in May, the dates to hold are Saturday and Sunday, June 12th and 13th. Collectors with flashlights who show up Friday night, please try to wait your turn! You know who you are!

Clyde Angel, answers at last....

2010-04-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

For years the art community has debated the existence of Clyde Angel, "highway wanderer". His works captured the hearts and fascination of collectors at the Outsider Art Fair in New York, when veteran dealer Sherry Pardee first showed his works. When the work was banned from the show, as questions about the veracity of the person and the sculpture were brought into question, some dealers, myself included, stood by the work. Judy Saslow and her Chicago gallery was a top advocate for Angel's work, and I personally thank her for her steadfastness.

Finally we have some of our questions answered. Clyde Angel's son, Skip Willits has written this moving account of his father's life and art. History will make the final judgments. I will just sit back and enjoy the art. The images I've included were grabbed from the net. My own personal collection will be published at a later date.

Clyde Angel, 1920 - 2006

By Skip Willits

My father was Clyde Angel, an artist who made a name for himself by producing a powerful body of work while fiercely protecting his identity and privacy from the art world until the day he died. I didn’t say this while he was alive because he asked me not to. I knew him as Vernon Clyde Willits for most of my life. He was a welder in a small factory called Climax Engines in Clinton Iowa for 40 years. He was a family man, an avid swimmer, a traveler, a very curious soul always up for an adventure. In his retirement he took up cross country skiing. He loved books. The local library used to get rid of their old books in a dumpster that sat behind his house. He couldn’t stand to see these books thrown away, so nightly he would sneak over to pull them out. His studio and house were filled with these old discarded library books.

My dad was a product of the great depression, a World War ll vet and, like many of his generation, a man of tools and reality. He lived a factory life, usually working 10 hour days, 6 days a week, paid his bills on time. Whenever he found a little time for himself he was content in making crafty, clever works which often took the form of visual jokes; nut and bolt figures that appeared to be chasing each other, a depiction of a snow skier’s trail going through a pine tree, or flowers made out of metal pipe. He also busied himself making utilitarian constructions; stainless steel house boats, spiral staircases, porch railings. Family and friends would continually request all sorts of repair jobs and welding projects, all of which he enthusiastically took on. These craft objects and welding projects continued to give him great pride through out his life, even after his success as Clyde Angel.

In the early 1990’s, several years after his retirement he began to make uniquely strange and powerful artworks out of steel found objects and other media. He was very prolific but secretive and at times ritualistic in this new form of art making. I first discovered his new direction when I found 3 pieces of his “secret artwork” hidden under a pile of scrap steel I was getting ready to discard. These objects were startling to me and the way in which he made them bizarre, compared to his normal craft. This new artwork was out of context with his usual daily life. Through drawings, writings, wall reliefs and sculpture objects he referenced his past, present and where he thought he was going in a most unusual way. The people he knew, pets he’d had, traumas experienced were all part of his subject matter. While talking to him about this work it became clear to me that it was an essential part of his life and he could no more have stopped this new type of image making than stop his breathing.

The new artwork gave him great satisfaction but at the same time made him uncomfortable. He felt that he would be ridiculed or perhaps considered an eccentric if he showed it to anyone who was used to his ‘normal’ work. Also, he was personally unsure of where this new inspiration came from; this feeling of obligation to “make these things” puzzled him. In a peculiar way I think he was almost embarrassed by what he was making. He knew the questions would come; Why such a compulsion to create, why did he go in such a strange direction at this point in his life, why such wild outlandish figures and writings. Perhaps he didn’t want to know the answers.

Though he intuited that this new work wouldn’t be accepted in his local world he still had a desire to “get it out there.” I convinced him to let me show his work to some people who could help do this, but he insisted on anonymity. And so he created his new name, Clyde Angel. Clyde because it was his middle name, but more importantly because Clyde was the name of his father whom he loved dearly and admired greatly. The Angel part I’m not so sure of.

Though I tried to convince my dad many times to let me introduce him to the people who admired his work, he refused. This stand that he took didn’t make things easy for those who admired his artwork or represented him. The art world demanded the proper credentials and a face to go with the art. When he refused the uproar it created sometimes over shadowed his artwork. Some, like gallerist Judy Saslow understood his request to let the artwork speak for itself, “If you want to know me, know me by my art.”

The idea that all artists, through their art, aspire to leave something behind that will let future generations know they were here, to make a statement about themselves, their experiences, who they loved, who they were – that’s all he wanted to do. In his stubbornness and wisdom he accomplished all of this.

In his lifetime I stayed quiet; I honored my father’s wishes. Now things have changed. When he was alive we talked with each other everyday, often times about art. I don’t have that luxury anymore. In the three years since his death I’ve done a lot of thinking about the meaning of his life and art, where things should go from here. What to do with what I know and what was left to me.

Two weeks before he died I took him to the circus. He always loved a good circus. His favorites were the acrobats on the flying trapeze. Once he created a sculpture depicting the Great Wallendas. During this part of the show I leaned over and told him I thought the acrobats looked like his artwork. He just smiled and kept watching the show.

“I remember flying down the deep inside the wind.” – Clyde Angel

Skip Willits

An Abundance of A. Huber.....new show

2010-02-25T06:01:00.000-08:00

Germany's Alexandra Huber has not forgotten her childhood, nor has she turned her back on freely using lines and color that explode off the page, leaving boundaries behind. Her playful works, reminiscent of Dubuffet and Basquiat, deal with relationships and inner feelings, without the screening of the superego. She challenges the viewer to examine themselves as they consider her works. What is in your Suitcase of Intentions? And in this economy, what surprise does you Shopping Bag to Go contain? The highly saturated Poet's Eye nudges us to fantasize what processes flow through the mind of someone so gifted and unique, while trying not to get lost in the deeply saturated colors.

This comprehensive show of over 50 works runs from March 1st through June 1st at the gallery in Connecticut, and much of the art is on-line at Beverly Kaye Gallery

This is a private space, open at your convenience. Huber's work ranges from 6" x6" pieces to works which are 25" x 19", as are the three artworks pictured above. Don't miss this very exciting show!

These images are courtesy of Hans Seidenabel, Munich.

Intuit presents Black Barbers and the Artistry of the Barbershops

2010-02-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Black Barbers and the Artistry of the Barbershop

Saturday, March 13, 11 am
Free and open to the public
(This notification is from the group called Intuit in Chicago. I highly recommend membership here!)

In conjunction with the exhibition The Treasure of Ulysses Davis, Quincy Mills, Assistant Professor of History at Vassar College, will give a presentation on the social and political culture of African American barbershops in the mid Twentieth-Century. Black barbershops have historically been places where commerce, culture and community intersect to inform African Americans' individual and collective freedom.

Ulysses Davis cut hair and created sculptures inside his barbershop in Savannah, Georgia, as an expression of his economic and artistic freedom. Barbering provided him the skill to maintain control of his economic life and the barbershop provided him the space to exercise his artistic creativity.

My friend the very accomplished hooker......

2010-01-27T06:13:00.000-08:00

Article from Hand/Eye

Article from Hand/Eye Magazine:"It's not what you think: Leslie Giuliani hooks rugs with a contemporary folk feel.One of the best things about being a rug hooker is telling people you are a “Hooker.” You get a laugh every time. I have been hooking for about 20 years now, having learned the craft in a continuing education class at a local high school. I have knit and sewn my whole life, and have a BFA in painting. Pictoral rug hooking brings my worlds of “art” and “craft” together. Although I have hooked many rugs for the floor, I enjoy making pictoral pieces for the wall. Changing the context from utility to decorative arts allows viewers to take their time and look at the image at eye level, to get to see the nuances of the craft more closely. traditional craft of rug hooking creates rugs by simply pulling loops of yarn or cut strips of fabric through a stiff woven base material such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. You only have to master one stitch: very simple. The backing is stretched over a frame or is hooped to maintain a tight, flat working area. The rug is worked in sections by re-stretching the backing to expose the next working area. The loops are pulled through the backing material using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage. All loops and strip ends are pulled to the top side to keep the underside free from snags and to allow it to be durable, since rugs are meant to be walked on. It’s the sheer density of the loops that keeps the rug together." You can read the rest of this article when you click on the link. Congratulations Leslie!It's not what you think: Leslie Giuliani hooks rugs with a contemporary folk feel.One of the best thingsabout being a rug hookeare a “Hooker.” You get a laugh every time. I have been hooking for about 20 years now, having learned the craft in a continuing education class at a local high school. I have knit and sewn my whole life, and have a BFA in painting. Pictoral rug hooking brings my worlds of “art” and “craft” together. Although I have hooked many rugs for the floor, I enjoy making pictoral pieces for the wall. Changing the context from utility to decorative arts allows viewers to take their time and look at the image at eye level, to get to see the nuances of the craft more closely. traditional craft of rug hooking creates rugs by simply pulling loops of yarn or cut strips of fabric through a stiff woven base material such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. You only have to master one stitch: very simple. The backing is stretched over a frame or is hooped to maintain a tight, flat working area. The rug is worked in sections by re-stretching the backing to expose the next working area. The loops are pulled through the backing material using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage. All loops and strip ends are pulled to the top side to keep the underside free from snags and to allow it to be durable, since rugs are meant to be walked on. It’s the sheer density of the loops that keeps the rug together." You can read the rest of this article when yArticle from Hand/Eye Magazine:"It's not what you think: Leslie Giuliani hooks rugs with a contemporary folk feel.One of the best things about being a rug hooker is telling people you are a “Hooker.” You get a laugh every time. I have been hooking for about 20 years now, having learned the craft in a continuing education class at a local high school. I have knit and sewn my whole life, and have a BFA in painting. Pictoral rug hooking brings my worlds of “art” and “craft” together. Although I have hooked many rugs for the floor, I enjoy making pictoral pieces for the wall. Changing the context from utility to decorative arts allows viewers to take their time and look at the image at eye level, to get to see the nuances of the craft more closely. traditional craft of rug hooking creates rugs by simply pulling loops of yarn or cut strips of fabric through a stiff woven base material such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. You only have to master one stitch: very simple. The backing is stretched over a frame or is hooped to maintain a tight, flat working area. The rug is worked in sections by re-stretching the backing to expose the next working area. The loops are pulled through the backing material using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage. All loops and strip ends are pulled to the top side to keep the underside free from snags and to allow it to be durable, since rugs are meant to be walked on. It’s the sheer density of the loops that keeps the rug together." You can read the rest of this article when you click on the link. Congratulations Leslie!Article from Hand/Eye Magazine:"It's not what you think: Leslie Giuliani hooks rugs with a contemporary folk feel.One of the best things about being a rug hooker is telling people you are a “Hooker.” You get a laugh every time. I have been hooking for about 20 years now, having learned the craft in a continuing education class at a local high school. I have knit and sewn my whole life, and have a BFA in painting. Pictoral rug hooking brings my worlds of “art” and “craft” together. Although I have hooked many rugs for the floor, I enjoy making pictoral pieces for the wall. Changing the context from utility to decorative arts allows viewers to take their time and look at the image t eye level, to get to see the nuances of the craft more closely. The traditional craft of rug hooking creates rugs by simply pulling loops of yarn or cut strips of fabric through a stiff woven base material such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. You only have to master one stitch: very simple. The backing is stretched over a frame or is hooped to maintain a tight, flat working area. The rug is worked in sections by re-stretching the backing to expose the next working area. The loops are pulled through the backing material using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage. All loops and strip ends are pulled to the top side to keep the underside free from snags and to allow it to be durable, since rugs are meant to be walked on. It’s the sheer density of the loops that keeps the rug together." You can read the rest of this article when you click on the link. Congratulations Leslie!

From Intuit, a new and very important exhibition

2010-01-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Treasure of Ulysses Davis

February 12, 2010 - May 15, 2010
Opening Reception: Friday, February 12, 5-8pm

The Treasure of Ulysses Davis debuted at the High Museum in Atlanta and traveled to the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the Menello Museum of Art in Florida, before arriving in Chicago. Organized by Susan Crawley of the High Museum of Art in collaboration with the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation of Savannah, Georgia, this retrospective features about 109 pieces, including 78 from the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation, which acquired most of Davis’s work after he died, fulfilling his desire to keep his corpus intact. The title comes from Davis’s explanation of why he disliked parting with his work: “They’re my treasure. If I sold these, I’d be really poor." The exhibition will increase public knowledge of and appreciation for the work of this much admired but rarely seen sculptor.

Laura N. James, praying out loud

2010-01-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

With an Antiguan heritage and a love for detail and storytelling, in the year 2000, Laura N. James made a spectacular group of paintings for a Book of Gospels , for the Roman Catholic Church. There is a diverse cast of characters represented, of all shades and nationalities, and the artwork is gorgeous! But this young New Yorker also paints Jazz figures which seduce the eye with their colors and movement, and her series, "Nannies and Other Mothers" grabs at your heart. Women who leave their own families far behind to come to the United States to care for the children of others is a powerful and often neglected subject. She handles it with a grace and compassion for all involved and the paintings are luscious.

Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness......AVAM

2009-10-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

Pedro Martin DeClet has come a very long way since his stint as head of the Latin Kings gang in the CT prison system. His works are now on display in the American Visionary Art Museum's newest show, Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness, curated by Roger Manley. Declet's Portrait de Genocide honors past martyrs in both the American Indian and Hispanic culture and is a powerful work with it's bleeding pictograph placed center stage. In another room is a hand-made book filled with paintings and paperwork which reflect his disavowal of the infamous gang, along with an altered book, a cross sculpture and a canvas carrying bag sporting a self-portrait. There is also a construction called El Philosopher which is made up of a time clock together with time cards hand painted by the artist. Pedro Martin DeClet is a man who does not look back, but rather reflects on a positive future. I thank Roger Manley for having an open mind and including these important works in his stellar show. It will run for close to a year and is worth the visit to the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, where the AVAM sits like a dazzling crowning jewel.
Photos courtesy of Roger Manley, curator

American Visionary Art Museum, 2009

2009-10-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank Roger Manley for the unparalleled job he did in curating the newest show at the AVAM in Baltimore. He went out of his way to include artists not always seen, to make this show fresh and very alive. From my gallery he choose five works by Pedro Martin DeClet, former head of the Latin Kings gang in the CT prison system, whose works deal with freedom on a very primal level. He also picked a lovely painting of a Jazz Funeral by Gerald Thornton, who was able to attend the opening with four generations of his family.

Roger included many works created by Dr. Ala Bashir, who is represented by Corvus Art Gallery, (Lesley Roy). Dr. Bashir was Saddam Hussein's personal physician and a world known plastic surgeon, who also is a world class painter and sculptor. His goal in life has always been to heal both body and spirit and his works are superb. Thank you Roger, for thinking out of the box and bringing all of this important work to a new audience. The art is hung beautifully and shown to it's best advantage. I hope you all have an opportunity to see this brilliant show.
Images included are two extraordinary paintings by Dr. Ala Bashir.

Self-taught and Outa' Sight.....Gale Hart

2009-10-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

Gale Hart is a Renaissance type of gal. She paints, she sculpts, she makes furniture of the edgiest kind. All this despite a real problem with dsylexia, which she has never let get her down. I would toss out everything I own and let her redesign all I have and use, were money no object. Not that her works are out of sight, price wise. To the contrary, they are very reasonably priced......it's the shipping of large crates of the stuff which would slow me down. If you're anywhere near Sacramento this weekend, go to A Bitchin' Space and see what I mean. Just don't tell me if you' ve bought anything......I'd be too envious to hear about it!

Unexpected art, assemblages, and paintings by Canadian artist

2009-09-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

This Canadian artist, who is equally at home with paint as she is with assemblages, once lived in Florida. I wish I had know her then, when my life was bringing me there several times a year. Carmen Hickson was a self-taught artist, who now has "three years of commercial art school" under her belt. She has remained true to herself and to her voice and she exhibits quite a talent. Recently she was successful in Canada's largest juried art show held in Toronto. This is work I'd love to see in person one day. Click on the title of this piece and it will bring you to her website. Be sure to check out her paintings, which are as magical as are the assemblages.

Vernissage for Helga Hornung

2009-09-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

Ottobeuren

Ausstellung im Rahmen der Ottobeurer Konzerte

im Haus des Gastes

Helga Hornung & Philipp Reisacher

“Weiter als der Horizont”

Zum Konzertwochenende 60 Jahre Basilikakonzerte

www.ottobeuren.de

Vernissage: Freitag 18. Sept. 2009 19.30 Uhr

Im Dialog mit den Künstlern, Bernd Schäfer (Bürgermeister Ottobeuren)

Musik: Reinhard Reißner (Klassische Gitarre )

19. und 20. Sept. von 10.00 bis 18.00 Uhr

Helga Hornung

Phantasie und Traumwesen die beflügeln und den Betrachter verzaubern.

Bilderbuchreihe “ Derkleine Lalu” www.helga-hornung.de

Philipp Reisacher

steht mitden Füssen auf der Erde, mit dem Herzen hängt ersich in den Himmel

Cornelia Kleybolt, M.A. www.ph-reisacher.de

Intuit's newest program........bring your own popcorn

2009-09-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Tattoo Flash
and Circus Banners

Intuit will host a panel discussion with experts on tattoo history and circus banners and performers. The panelists are Freaks & Flash co-curator, Anna Friedman Herlihy; Amelia Klem Osterud, author of the forthcoming book The Tattooed Lady: A History (Nov. 2009, Speck Press); and former circus traveler turned artist, Glen Davies.

This talk is free and
open to the public.

Kris Lewis and Travis Louie........beinart stars.....

2009-09-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

The International Surreal Art Collective boasts some of the very best artists in the world among it's members. Alex Grey and Ann Harper are two of my favorites. But now I learn of two more accomplished people to add to the list. Travis Louie’s new exhibition is at Roq la Rue Gallery.His " hypnotic portraiture is compelling for its blend of the hyper realistic with the blatantly unreal. Fantastical creatures gaze out from paintings so technically refined (using transparent layers of acrylic paint over a tight graphite drawing on a smooth flat surface) that they look uncannily like old photographs." This fact entices you take a second look. Kris Lewis, who is currently showing his portraits at David B Smith Gallery in Denver Colorado, has a romantic yet edgey quality to his work which makes the quirkiness quite appealing.

Painter, advocate, furniture maker

2009-09-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Gale Hart is my hero. This self-taught artist is a highly visible animal rights activist, and her paintings and constructions are well known and exhibited. Her show "Why Not Eat Your Pet" has received rave reviews and raised the consciousness of droves of onlookers. And she is one hell of a furniture maker! This painting called "Blinded for Your Good Looks" takes on the cosmetic industry and their unconscionable use of animals for product testing. The two tables need to be in my living room ASAP! Such energy and raw talent!

Before he was Paul........

2009-09-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Connecticut artist, Paul Pitt is known for his folk art paintings of scenes from a gentler time, populated with up to 250 men, women, children and animals. And always there are two running boys, one Black and one White, one of whom is wearing the ever present red scarf. But searching through an old barn this week, Paul's first efforts were rediscovered. These vintage paintings, over 30 years old, are much different from the idyllic scenes for which Paul Pitt is well known. The earlier works have an appeal all to themselves so I've decided to share them with you. Tell me what you think!

A link in the title will bring you to Paul's work as it is recognized today. He is in many permanent museum collections and his work has been on the cover of quite a few magazines. The older works are now available for purchase.

"To The Marrow," a deep look inside

2009-08-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

This collage by Kathy Carvellas started out as "Spinal Tap", but work progresses and changes along the way and the final piece, along with it's new title are now complete. In the artist's words, "I just finished the first of the three pieces I've been working on. "To the Marrow" is all about the deep connection between the mind and the body. Between our deepest memories and the tiniest cells in our bodies. No matter how aware or unaware we may be of those connections, they effect us each and everyday. For better or worse. Thank God we have the capacity to tap into these connections and receive healing and release in the places we need them!!" Many artist's are able to achieve healing through their work, and we are the benefactors of their labor.

Lori Field, self-taught art with a fine art feel

2009-08-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

Lori Field's work is smart, seductive and beautiful. A combination of drawing, collage, bee's wax and encaustic materials transforms intelligent thought into alluring art. Lori's images are bits of human elements morphed with flora and fauna, with exotic results.
To quote the artist, "Animals lack self-consciousness or artifice, so the animal-like figures provide a means for emotive personification, characterizing or exhibiting human motives and foibles. The external traits of the animal/human figures suggest internal ones. As my shape-shifting creatures morph, are they 'becoming-animal' or 'becoming-human'? Which transformation would leave them better off? These human/animal archetypes - a cast of recurring characters - create intuitive narratives that explore themes of loss, rebirth, identity, denial, alienation, loneliness......and human vulnerability." See, I told you she was smart! The above examples are courtesy of the artist.

Discovered on the streets of DC.......

2009-07-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

As my son and I were leaving a Georgetown restaurant in 1995, a blaze of color caught our eyes. To see Matt Sesow's paintings is to share in a bit of his reality. A landing airplane hit and severed his left arm at the age of eight, forcing him to become right handed. The physical and emotional pain of the trauma has left a clear mark on Matt's work. In 1994, at the age of 28, he began painting. His titles, such as "Painting by Remembers", "Lost Luggage", "Alone in Death", and "Sucker Punch", are more than subtle hints of the turmoil he has experienced. He views painting as a way to communicate his emotions and experiences in an immediate and powerful manner. He talks of "punching" the paint on his surface, and the turbulence it creates grabs at the viewer, never quite letting go. Bold backgrounds, angry and averted orange eyes, or friendly blue ones, heavily outlined figures not able to stay within the confines of the canvas, are all hallmarks of his style. Nowadays Matt's interest is in painting day to day life and and commenting on the news, which he does with considerable charm and wit. Three early pieces illustrating this blog, are now available for sale through http://www.artbrut.com

Little Buddy, Picking Daisies, and Turndown (Almsman)

Symbolist collage using 19th century prints......

2009-07-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

As a child I loved to see the arty backdrops displayed in high fashion windows at Bonwit Teller in New York City. As an adult I got to meet the extraordinary man who created these collages utilizing images from 18th and 19th century engravings. Many decades later, Anthony Guyther is still creating wonderful works, as well as tongue in cheek constructions, and each one is as clever and witty as ever. The older works are published in a book called "Symbolist Collage", and I have been very fortunate over the years to have collected many of those original works for the gallery and for my personal collection. The construction above is called "Macanudo Lady", the collage is "Egg-guardian", and below that is "Fighting Nix". Yesterday I received copies of his new works and luckily I'll be able to see them in person in a few weeks. I'll keep you posted.......

Duck, duck, duck, tape!

2009-07-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

According to Marshall McLuhan, "art is anything you can get away with", and Pete Warburton's show at the University of Michigan's Taubman Health Center, is proof! Don't get me wrong, this clever work is definitely art, and successful art at that. Warburton utilizes an unusual art material called duck tape, which is ordinarily used for many types of painting and fix it yourself projects. In this artist's hands, the lowly material becomes so much more. "Night Route to Gallium" is proof of his talent. Click on the title and read more about this exceptional artist. Or contact him directly at haloclub@netscape.net

Maine artist soothes in life as well as in art.....

2009-07-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

As a therapist in Southern Maine, Charles Farrell works with individuals and families who are dealing with many forms of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, addictions, depression, and more. With art, both for his clients, as a form of art therapy, and for himself, he has found a voice and an order. Farrell's own work draws from historic as well as contemporary imagery and his combination of collage, photomontage and paint, as well as pencil and ink, produces a mysterious mix of fantasy and recognizable reality striking a chord within the viewer. Click on the title of this piece, and you will be brought to his blog, which is filled with many more intriguing works.

Eco House in Japan steals my heart......

2009-07-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have fallen in love with architecture which felt so organic and which inspired furniture to properly fill the spaces. The new eco oriented Shell House in Japan is such a creation. Ero Saarinin and Mes Van Der Rohe were the last, as my own furnishings attest. The goal to have a shelter appear as if it sprung up in the woods like a mushroom, and looks as appropriate in it's surroundings, is a great achievement. And it has happened again. I could move in tomorrow.....just don't know where I'd hang the art!

Seraphine.....self-taught artist's life in winning new film

2009-07-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

The Foundation for Self-taught American Artists is showing a special viewing of a sleeper hit in France. From their invitation: "SÉRAPHINE went on to a surprise win of the Best Picture and Best Actress for Yolande Moreau along with five other awards at the 2009 Césars.

Based on a true story, SÉRAPHINE reveals the life and work of Séraphine de Senlis (Moreau), a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper whose brilliantly colorful canvases adorn some of the world 's most famous collections. German art critic and collector Wilhelm Uhde (The Lives of Others Ulrich Tukur) the first Picasso buyer and champion of primitive painter Rousseau discovers her paintings while Séraphine is working for him as a maid in the beautiful countryside of Senlis near Paris. A moving and unexpected relationship develops between the avant-garde art dealer and the visionary artist. Martin Provost's fictionalized and poignant portrait of Séraphine is a testament to creativity and the resilience of one womans spirit."

SÉRAPHINE opens to the public July 17, at the Ritz 5 Theatre http://www.seraphinemovie.com/ I cannot wait to see this film!

Kent, redux, so richly deserved!

2009-06-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

I'm quoting from this article about William Kent, once more, because I do not want to be one of those people who knew about, and in fact collected his work, and never helped to get the word out.
Wood Be Master
THE SCULPTURES OF WILLIAM KENT, A CARVING ARTIST
By Alan Bisbort
The smell of wood resin and wood dust precedes William Kent's barn in Durham, Connecticut by about 100 yards. As you make the final turn on serpentine Howd Road—after passing cow pastures, woodlands, vine-choked ponds and creeping suburbia—Kent's lime-green door appears, a visual beacon that most people simply speed past.

Why shouldn't they? They have no way of knowing that inside lives and toils one of the world's master artists. Private by nature, the solitary William Kent once preferred it that way. But now, having turned 82, Kent is beginning to wonder why the larger world—meaning the major institutions dedicated to art and culture—have not beaten a path to his door. This is not just some idle pipe dream of a hobbyist or second-rate talent but a valid complaint from a forgotten master. William Kent, according to an art critic cited in a New York Times article about him, is "the world's greatest living carver of wood. There's not even anyone close."
Read the rest, you will Never forgive yourself if you don't! And run to Kehller Liddel Gallery for this show.......
Bob Falcetti is the remarkable photographer who captured Bill and his work so beautifully!

Strong at 90, William Kent

2009-06-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

"William Kent? He is a printer and sculpture- currently 90 yrs of age and still working from his Durham CT studio home. He is known in CT from group shows in the past decade and being aquired by some of the major museums - Lyman Allen, Yale, a few prominent galleries and many private collectors. Considered something of a CT treasure......" These are the words of Linda Hali Zucker, Gallery Coordinator at Kehler Liddell Gallery in New Haven CT. Luckily for area residents the political prints made from chiseled slate and the huge wood carvings made over a lifetime, are on display at the above mentioned gallery through August. This is a must see show. An artist highly influenced by music and the times, which is evident in his totally unique style. I treasure the pieces of his work I am fortunate enough to own.

Outsider art at my door!

2009-06-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

After a long and delicious visit with my kids and grandkids in the Boston area, I came home to a mysterious package waiting for me at the back door. The return address was for an artist I knew from the internet, Dirk Dahl. I have posted some of his truly amazing sculptures of Jazz greats on this blog, but the package was a complete puzzle. When I finally got both suitcase and package inside the house, and turned off the alarms, I opened the box. Stunned is not a word I use often, but I was completely stunned. Inside was a magical African figure loaded with so much Mojo that I could hear the music. Eyes askance, head dress loaded with amber glass marbles, rope and mud, nail head necklace, mouth tiny and pursed.......it was beyond belief. It would be right at home in the African Art collection I just visited at the Yale University Art Galleries. An unexpected gift is always fun, but this.....this was beyond imagining. I am still....here's that word again....stunned!
Dirk, thank you so much for allowing me to have such a remarkable piece of your work in my collection!

Sculpture show hits the big time....

2009-06-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

Click on title to see TV coverage of the sculpture show, or better yet, enjoy these photos taken by &ndrew at Urban Papers Art dot Blog Spot dot com.

Sculpture in The Garden Show

2009-05-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again. Artists show up with truly amazing sculptures made from recycled materials and turn my garden into a wonderland. Especially in this time of thrift, I'm so proud to welcome these talented folks who have made something out of nothing. Old car, truck and tractor parts and forsaken out of date machinery morph into robots, life sized horses, moose, sunflowers, dancers, musicians and birds and animals of all descriptions. It is so much fun, for me, for the artists, and for the hundreds of loyal followers who show up to my amazement each and every year. The biggest crowd I ever experienced was during a weekend of torrential rain. If you are in my area, please do come by......and children are most welcome. Merritt Parkway, exit 58 is only one and a half miles away. Or Whalley Ave. to Fountain St. to Ansonia Rd. to Lorraine Drive. Looking forward to spreading the joy!
Beverly Kaye Gallery
15 Lorraine Drive
Woodbridge, CT

Afghani Tribal clothing

2009-05-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Brimfield Antique and Collectable Show is so vast, that even thought I've been walking through the fields there for decades, there are some that I've yet to visit. This year the new field to explore, after trudging through the opening of Central Field, and Faxton's Midway, was New England Motel. Although I had to pay to enter, (the other fields I visited that day were free) and it didn't feel too promising at first, further in there were some real treasures on display. Many of the booths were set up in quite a formal fashion, much like an upscale indoor show. At the back of one of these spaces was an Afghani Tribal dress or shirt, I'm not sure which. The hem was made of many many layers of added material so the result was a delightful ruffled effect.
The Yoke and shoulders were festooned with all types of decoration. Handmade metal and silver jewelry, buttons and old coins embellished the lively tribal fabric. I asked, he offered, I recounted, he made a phone call to his wife, and it was mine! I may offer it at the Sculpture Show coming up in a few weeks, or it might visit with me for a while. It's a real beauty!

On the road to Brimfield......

2009-05-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Cher Shaffer from Appalachia, not only paints wonderful portraits, she also creates dolls which are sophisticated and charming. Here are three which might show up at the Brimfield Show next week in Massachusetts. If you've never attended, this is a show for the entire family. Over 6,000 dealers in farmer's fields stretching over 1 1/2 miles along Route 20 in Brimfield, MA. show up from Tuesday through Saturday, three times a year for a week of antiques, folk art, pottery, jewelry, furniture from all periods, collectibles, and stuffed chickens, I kid you not! Everything under the sun is displayed here, and many collections have been built from discoveries in these fields. One of my cousins, whose home has been featured in county living books, filled her rooms over the years with Brimfield finds. You and your kids will love this adventure. Bring water, hats, cell phones, a bag to put treasures in, and wear comfortable shoes. Sturbridge Village is 5 miles away....another must stop for the family. Let the collecting begin!

Waves of flowing green....

2009-05-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

In case anyone missed it, here's Maya Lin's interpretation of waves at Storm King, which is an amazing New York estate filled with world class sculpture. She is widely known for her Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC and her Civil Rights sculpture in Montgomery, Alabama. She's a Yale graduate and her aunt was the first female architect in China. Breathtaking and serene.

Outsider from across the Pond.........

2009-05-05T05:51:00.000-07:00

Self-taught and Outsider artist, Ian Pyper from the UK makes doodles that go to another level. His whimsical art has a great lighthearted appeal and is held in many international collections. Here are a few new pieces, which I'm sure you will agree, are delightful.

Just couldn't resist......

2009-05-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

Taken from the site of this trained artist......but I couldn't resist! "Steve Bartlett grew up in Louisville, KY and graduated from Kenyon College with a B.A. in Art. Prior to painting, Steve sculpted small interior to large-scale outdoor stainless steel works. His art is in the public collections of Neiman Marcus, Continental Airlines, The Port of San Diego, The City of Los Altos, and Adobe Systems, as well as in numerous private collections. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lora and their three furry friends." What fun!

"Rooms of His Mind"

2009-04-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

Step into the rooms of his mind. Roger Hines is an amazingly talented assemblage artist, whose pieces reflect myriad's of hours reflecting, searching out elements, constructing, and creating intricate works of art. They are breathtakingly beautiful, and have been collected worldwide. The price range for works by this New York artist is from $4500 to $20,000. They speak for themselves!

A stitch in time.......

2009-04-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Fabric, patterns, pins, and thread all make their way into the self-taught art of Carol Es. Her work has evolved into appealing art for all collectors, regardless of the categories they collect. Here are two recent works reflecting the sophistication she has achieved. This talented woman also makes handmade books which have received national acclaim. The top piece is called "Stop Apologizing" and the second is entitled "Forgive".

There's a fairy in my garden.....

2009-04-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Whether he's busy inside or outside, Karl Mckoy is an extremely creative man. A Renaissance man. As he redoes a garden of Old Roses, he still finds time to let the magic out in works on paper as well. One glance is never enough. Each piece requires a second look, and time to ponder. This man's art never falls asleep on the wall.

Owls, Jacks, Pixies and Fairies

2009-04-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

Karl Mckoy is a wondrous artist as well as a master gardener! His owl begs for a child's wall, but would be savored for a lifetime. The next image reminds me of jack in the pulpit puppets in a storybook scene. He is a magician with both earth and paint and no one knows what will sprout next in the garden of this fertile mind. A favorite of the gallery. Please contact Beverlyskaye@aol with any inquiries about available works.

Do you like my Easter bonnet?

2009-04-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

"There is a state of mind called Brenda's Nut Farm. I go there everyday. You do too. I've seen you there. You might have thought you were in the tomb of the unknown soldier, or in Walmart.............

The farm is populated.....a family of little children who may have names light Naughty Betty, or Jimmy Cookie....and more. The children are each me, and I am all of them.....working through them......I think....or vice-versa".

And so starts the site of Donald Roller Wilson, who is one of the most technically talented and imaginative painters existing in the world today. If I had an extra twenty grand or so, one of his magical paintings would be hanging in my home today. There is no way to pass a Roller painting and not stop and smile. You recognize yourself......dont' say you don't! Back to

the nut farm........

Guitars which are folk art.........

2009-04-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

Usually at a concert, you can close your eyes and listen to the music, but if the guitars are created by Peter Huiras, you will be missing the show! This self-taught artist creates the most unusual and stunning musical instruments ever seen. They are not inexpensive. The price tags start at $5,000 each, and some of his instruments (symphonic quality violins, cellos and bases are double and triple that price. They are ART, and who knows what their value will increase to in the future. Instrument making is only one of the many talents Mr. Huiras has. He also sculpts totems and spirits, and makes jewelry influenced by creatures he sees daily on his land.

The interior world bleeds onto a canvas

2009-04-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

Ronald Sloan has been obsessively painting his private world for over forty years. An examination of this almost intact, and vast body of work, exposes an alternate reality painted in a masterful and unique style. It has remained so consistent, that only dating next to his signature reveals whether the work is early or recent. The human figure, deconstructed and then reconstructed into skeletal form, often exists in a world of fear, pain, trauma and sexual abuse. Geometric figures-- grids, boxes, far off center lines, and numbers appear hand in hand with quasi human figures struggling to make sense of an unsettling world.
One of his painting was recently chosen to be on the cover of a poetry book published by Alice James Books. The gallery has a large portfolio of these paintings, as well as day book sketches. The paintings above are "The Thought" and 'The Night He Cried".

Looking for a "Magic Place"

2009-04-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

This will be my new ad for the Spring/Summer Raw Vision magazine. It's a hard choice about print ads, but this issue comes out the week before my Sculpture in the Garden Show (June 5th, 6th, and 7th) and the magazine will be mentioning the show for me in their Raw News section, so it's a go. I'll be posting the new Huber works within the month, and the sculptors are being rounded up for the outdoor show. Last year, over 400 people showed up....some even came with flashlights the night before. So that weekend this property is a "magic place". It's also the name of the 6" x 6" Huber mixed media piece I choose for the ad.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse equals art

2009-03-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

My favorite kind of art is made from recycled objects, injecting into them a new and sometimes curious life. Jim Shores is a self-taught artist from Georgia, who falls in to this group of talented folk. He creates metal sculpture, assemblages and environmental art from discarded objects and I dare you not to smile when you spot one. His art is delightful and his friends think a whole lot of good about him.

European Naive works come to the big city......

2009-03-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

My pal, naive artist Guido Vedovato of Italy is showing his colorful and very charming works in New York City next month at the Gina Gallery of Naive Art. If you are in the city, don't miss this chance to see the highly talented international artists who will be joining him in this stunning show. A rare chance to see what is being created outside of the hallowed NY art scene. Definitely a highlight of the season!

Dots....eat them, play them, love them

2009-03-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Amy Myers wrote to tell me about a "board and care" residential facility that houses 250 people suffering from debilitating mental illness located in San Pedro, California. In this space there is a Living Museum Art Center, where a handful of dedicated artists spend the major portion of each day. Amy tells me these artists derive great satisfaction out of their work and in some cases discovering their creativity has literally saved their lives by giving them a sense of purpose. Jennifer Flores is one of these talented people and her "Dots Guitar" will certainly bring a smile to your face. If you have any interest in seeing more of her work, please contact
Amy Myers
Living Museum Art Center at Harbor View House
921 S. Beacon Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

Doodles to die for.......Ian Pyper

2009-03-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

As it succinctly says on his website," Ian Pyper creates drawings; he induces visions. Pyper uses marker, watercolor and paper, like a caveman used burnt wood, spit and a hard rock wall, to show us clearly what he sees." This entirely self-taught and outsider artist from the UK wows his audience with a cacophony of color and line, dots and doodles, and wins an ever larger audience each time. Paper saturated with watercolor and ink mesmerize the eye and spirit alike. I like!

Squeakie turns to folk art........

2009-03-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

"James Stone has been called "Squeakie" for as long as he can remember. He was born in Georgetown County, South Carolina, in 1951. When he was growing up, the family moved every few years or so because his father was a sharecropper and carpenter, and they moved where the work was. Squeakie started work at "handing" tobacco (passing the leaves on to a worker who strung it for drying) when he was just five or six years old. As he got older, he was involved in all aspects of the operation, from pulling plants, setting tobacco, hoeing, cropping. And he picked cotton. He worked in a few factories and grocery stores over the years, and then began working as a house painter about thirty years ago." Check out his website to hear the rest of this self-taught artist's story and see more of his work.

Jammin' at the Cotton Club.....

2009-03-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

These life sized sculptures by Dirk Dahl have to be seen to be believed. He has lovingly captured the feel, the sound, and the spirit of Jazz greats, when Jazz was great. When I was a teen, my cousin, Fred, took me under his wing and brought me to the famous nightclub, Storyville, in Boston in the late.....forget it..... I'm not going to tell you the decade! There, and at the Worcester Auditorium, and at the Newport Jazz Festival we saw Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd, Louis Armstrong, and so many more of the top musicians in the new world order called Jazz. Years later my friend Dirk was hearing about these same musicians and their performances at the Cotton Club in Florida. He started on a quest to honor each of his favorites and here are images of a couple more of his truly amazing sculptures. I can hear the music.....

Greek Outsider artist, tissue paper magic

2009-03-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

Greece still beckon Katerina Mourati, who was born there in 1962, and still returns to Patmos for solitude and respite. Germany is now her home and her tissue paper drawings and paintings are as mystical and magical as the islands she so dearly loves.

Outsider Art shown at German Fair

2009-03-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo of Alexandra Huber's art on the walls of the famous Artfair in Karlsruhe, Germany. This is a spectacular fair and thankfully it was very successful for all involved. There will be a show of her work called "Alexandra in America" from May through July at the Beverly Kaye Gallery and more of her work can be seen by clicking on the title link. Feel free to join the Galley's facebook page as a Fan.

"We Need A Holy Place", Outsider Art....

2009-03-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

Two of the larger Alexandra Huber works on paper, 19" x 25", chosen from a large body of her latest works, are now available at the gallery. The first is titled "'Schrages Kabinett" or in English, "Crazy Cabinet" and the second is titled "We Need A Holy Place". $1800 a piece. Alexandra just returned from the famous Artfair in Karlsruhe, Germany, and in her words,

"it was very successful in spite of the crisis."

"Magic Place" a sample of what the future holds.....

2009-03-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

Although her German agent decided to withdraw from the Outsider Art Fair, he faithfully delivered to me a cache of new and very exciting works by Alexandra Huber. New York fans, as well as anyone else who missed seeing her work at the February show, will not be disappointed with the quality of works selected. The art is being photographed and will be posted soon on

artbrut.com which is the address for the Beverly Kaye Gallery. Two larger mixed media pieces and ten of the 6" x 6" smalls will be added to the extensive portfolio of Huber works represented here. Alexandra remains one of Europe's top self-taught artists, and her current shows and catalogues will be listed when the new works are ready to go public. This little gem called "Magic Place" is a great example of what is to follow.

Algerian, Moroccan and political folk art

2009-03-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

The stark compelling images of Algerian, Moroccan, and American artist, Fethi Meghelli, are a cross between dreamlike folk tales and political pronouncements. This talented, respected, and highly trained artist creates works which wrap themselves around your brain. In this intriguing piece called "Other Realities", two mesmerizing images are printed on the same piece of arches paper. Each powerful in their own right, together they are magic. Offered from a private collection, 17" x 12" unframed, $500

Acoma Pueblo Pottery, self-taught art

2009-03-04T14:39:00.000-08:00

Lucy Lewis was a matriarchal Pueblo Indian artist, whose works are in permanent museum collections all over the world. She lived and worked at Acoma Pueblo, carved into the top of a sandstone bluff called Sky City, an hour's drive west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lucy brought renewed interest in old designs, such as the lightening jar and the bear heart line. Her pottery was graceful and much admired, and all of her daughters, as well as her son Andrew, became potters in their own right. Nieces followed in the family tradition and some of the finest and thinnest walled pieces bear the Lewis name. Click on the title and you will see more of this collection, which I hand picked during memorable visits with the family in the 1980's and 1990's.

Dolores and Emma Lewis were gracious hosts and thanks to them I was able to meet Lucy and watch as she painstakingly decorated some of her final pots. The last time I saw Lucy, a French film company was making a video of the pottery process, which was eventually titled "Daughters of the Anasazi". If you can find a copy, it is a detailed and fascinating explanation of the entire process, from the hunting for the clay to the dung firing. All of the pieces shown in the link are now offered for sale.

A Life of Visionary Collage, Ann Irwin

2009-02-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

Ann Irwin, by all accounts, was a woman who chose to live, love, and create art, under the most challenging circumstances. She battled chronic lung disease and other health issues, but worked on her art constantly. Even towards the end of her battle, she managed, with a 54 foot long cord to her oxygen supply, to still work in her beloved garden, and create eloquent colleges and quilts in her basement studio. According to her husband, Roy, she utilized old books, fabric, and found objects. "Ann created a large body of art (over 400 pieces) rich in a deep personal mythology of whimsical images of birds, houses, trees, and flowers." She often incorporated the printed word in her works, "not to be read, rather for tonality". "She asked her paper, foil, and twigs to function as a silent prayer, to anchor the dreamy images, to keep them real and material." Ann's work was shown in both museum settings and regional shows. I present here, three wonderful examples of her work. The piece I call "Starry Night with Matzoh" is one of my favorites. I thank Roy Zipris, Ann's husband, for bringing her extraordinary work to my attention. I recently visited the Museum of Modern Art to see collages and constructions. Ann Irwin's work would have been a perfect fit. Click on the title of this blog and you will come to a flickr page of more images. Enjoy!

Ann Harper, food for thought

2009-02-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

Ann Harper continues to amaze me with her complex, and spectacularly painted artworks. She is a licensed clinician as well as a courtroom advocate for children, and still finds the time to create haunting and unforgettable canvases. This recent painting called "Harvest" is in response to a poem by Saint Helena, part of which is posted here.
"And I have tilled, indeed,
Much land, where men may say that I have planted
Unsparingly my corn—
For a world harvest-haunted
And for a world unborn."
Another of my Harper favorites is "Knitting Birds". Strange, for sure, but beautiful non the less! Ann offers this one as a giclee print on eBay.

Pedro Martin DeClet, homage to heros

2009-02-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

The collage "Portrait de Genocide", a powerful statement by Pedro Martin DeClet, is typical of his works which often examine his personal struggles and those of society. He first started exploring art while incarcerated, and a liberal prison system encouraged his efforts and allowed him to leave the premisses to attend his first show, beyond prison walls. This monumental work honors fallen heros, Latino as well as American Indian. The red pictograph of the human spirit bleeds for them and their sacrifices. Much of Pedro's work is in diary form, and he excels at painting, collage, sculpture, as well as assemblages.
His prison years and his involvement with the Latin Kings are far behind him, only occasionally resurfacing as fodder for his art. Pedro is exquisitely aware of the art world, and the poetry and prose of the most renowned authors and wordsmiths; however, his work is not at all derivative. It is purely his own vision, his own pain. Although completely self-taught, his frequent use of both Latin and Spanish text within his work gives it a unique sophistication. His self-portraits reveal him as he is, sweet, moody, confrontational, scarred, and hopeful. Pedro has had several museum shows and his work is held in many private collections.

Art equals Jazz equals Art

2009-02-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the "Cotton Club" from Miami, Florida? My parents and their friends often spoke of what great jazz could be heard there, and I even got to visit once, when I was a small child. But Dirk Dahl, of California, took it way more seriously. He has collected jazz memorabilia for most of his life and is addicted to the sound of the music from the 30's and 40's. He also is a self-taught sculptor, and has created larger than life and extremely powerful figures of some of the Jazz greats, in his personal tribute to this unique sound. His animated pieces are collected world wide, and the JEPG here is of his wind section. Just how cool is that! Google him and watch these figures actually take shape on his videos......you won't be sorry! Wish he were coming to a venue here soon!

Outsider Artist Huber at Galerie Horst Dietrich

2009-02-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

Galerie Horst Dietrich is showing Alexandra Huber a group show in Berlin this month. She will have a one-person-show starting in the beginning of March in the artfair in Karlsruhe. Seven of her previous catalogues will be available illustrating the fine work of this gifted artist who came to the art scene in 1993. Her works always remind me of Dubuffet, and sometimes Jean-Michel Basquiat, and with their child-like appearance, they always have an adult sensibility.

She works in mixed media, in both large and small scale, and more of her work can be seen
here

Collage artist, Jocelyn Prosser

2009-02-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn Prosser, originally from Toronto, Ontario, lives and creates her brilliant work in Neath, South Wales. She is a self-taught painter, using watercolor as her medium and Paul Klee, Frida Kahlo and primitive Haitian images as influences. Jocelyn is an eclectic collector of all types of 1940's dolls, Shona carvings, and objects trouves salvaged from home sales and flea markets. Sometimes these treasures get a second life as this artist also creates striking assemblages and jewelry. In the Spring of 2008 her assemblages were first shown in recycled wooden boxes and drawers at the Washington Gallery in South Wales.
She has a presence on the Saatchi site filled with many excellent examples of her watercolors and is an artist worth noting. Her work has a musicality to it and a painterly esthetic. The work on the top is entitled "Silver Lined Cloud" and the collage on the bottom is called "Lighthouse".

Daniel Farber, self-taught photographer

2009-02-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

His business was leather, but his love was photography. On his gravestone are the words "Nature is my God" and his camera is carved over the shoulder of his marker, as if resting there a moment. Daniel Farber's works are in the permanent collection of 123 museums world wide, and he had numerous one man shows. Although he was self-taught, his "Reflections" show received rave reviews at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, as did his "Early American Gravestones" show at the AMFA and at Yale. When the Boston Aquarium opened, his stunning slides of reflections in water were mounted in their entry and his unforgettable macro images of flowers grace the walls of the Decorative and Fine Art division of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He was published in American Heritage, Popular Photography, Modern Photography, and Country Beautiful magazines, as well as on many classical record album covers. He was a prodigious photographer whose work is still widely collected. More than 1,400 dye transfer color prints, 34,000 gelatin silver prints, and 14,000 negatives produced by him are in the collections of U.S. museums and institutions. He was also one hell of a gardener, and one of my favorite uncles! Vintage images and his book, "Reflections of a Trail Taken" are available through this gallery.

Modern Masters, Travis Tuck and Tony Holand

2009-02-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Travis Tuck started making weathervanes when Stephen Spielgberg showed up in Martha's Vineyard in 1974 and needed metal work to be done for his movie "Jaws". A spectacular and completely free hand shark weathervane was produced by Travis and it was placed on the fishing shack in the film. It was so coveted that it was stolen and had to be reconstructed twice! Travis's vanes became internationally famous and the waiting list for a piece to be constructed edged up on two years. Travis was named a Modern Master (he was considered the finest weathervane maker in the world) and was featured in a TV documentary film. Eventually Tony Holand came to apprentice with Travis, and together they continued to create masterful pieces until Travis's death due to a cancer that he valiantly fought for years.
For my vane, I suggested an Indian archer, but with the decorations of a Jingle Dancer added to the usual elements. When Tony delivered it to me, after Travis's death, it was covered with extra touches of gold leaf.....a gift to me for the long wait. The vane was installed in a space that had been waiting for it and it can be seen in it's finished state by clicking on the title of this posting. Here are photos from the process of it's creation.

Welcome to my world........

2009-02-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

I'm a private dealer in Outsider and Artbrut Art and have over 400 images and supporting text on-line. The actual gallery is in Woodbridge, CT and is open by appointment or by chance. The pieces I have chosen to represent are top examples from each of my artists, all of whom have been placed in private as well as museum collections. During the year I deal mainly with works on paper, canvas and board, but in June I hold the annual Sculpture in the Garden show which transforms the property into a dazzling display of recycled metal, stone, and wood, reformed into giant sunflowers, dancers, musicians, horses, robots, dragonflies and garden whimsies. The gallery has been awarded as a Forbes Magazine "Best of the Web", and "Incredible Art Site of the Week" for months running!
Welcome to my world!

Outsider Artist, Maurice Hansen, Jr.

2009-02-04T08:32:00.000-08:00

Maurice Hansen was discovered by my friend and fellow dealer, Chris Butler. Recognizing a major talent, she immediately arranged for a one man show of his paintings at the prestigious Aetna Gallery in Hartford, CT. Hansen's canvases are loaded to the edges with all kinds of biblical symbolism, as well as reflections of the daily news. They are masterful works, held in many private collections as well as museums.

Because of an unfortunate fire in Butler's home, where a large body of his work was stored, many of his paintings were severely damaged. This particular painting, called "The Death of Lazarus", was prompted by news that a homeless man, who accidentally got doused with water, froze to death on the streets of NY. Right around the corner people were going about their lives, enjoying a restaurant dinner.

Hansen was a beloved man, who valiantly lived with schizophrenia, and a one eared cat he believed was the incarnation of Van Gogh. I still miss his quick whispers, his energy, his ever present three pair of glasses, and his enormous talent. Maurice died of cancer, untreated due to his fear of receiving shock treatments from the doctors down the street. This had been the misguided way his mental illness had been dealt with when he was a child. His remaining works rarely come to market.

I'm reminded of a quote in the Wall Street Journal that stated "Buy art that annoys, that uplifts, that challenges you to learn more about it. Buy art that you have to defend to somebody. Buy art that makes you feel smart, not art that matches your furniture." I will never tire of defending the works of Maurice Hansen.

Luis Manuel Serrano, Romantic Mexican Assemblages

2009-02-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Luis Manuel Serrano's exotic collages and constructions come from his love of making 8 mm and 16 mm films. Each scene is set for a story complete with a script. According to Teresa del Conde, who is the Director of the Modern Art Museum in Mexico City, " He does this in a mode reminiscent of Joseph Cornell. This he achieves by making his collages tridimensional. His assemblages may represent stagings set during the first few decades of the 20th century. They describe a fondness for certain things. They are rather moving and deeply nostalgic. He saves seemingly unconnected objects from oblivion. In Luis Mauel's work there are crystalized tears, which are actually small vials, and even tears of blood; there are pins used to hold up feminine coiffures that hold a certain aggressiveness. A Boticelli Venus' hair becomes real while Don Gabriel Figuera's clouds become steel shavings."
The museum has a beautiful illustrated catalogue of Serrano's works , which are included in many public as well as private collections. I am including his "A Night in the Opera", but you can see many more works from private collections, as well as works for sale on his blog. Mexico has given us a great gift. This is a man worth watching. His website is:
http://lmserranodiaz.blogspot.com

Recycled Metal Sculpture, Outsider Art

2009-01-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

This is a large sculpture, under production, by one of the most gifted artists in CT. It's made entirely from recycled metal automotive parts, and a third side, which will complete the triangle, will wrap around the edges using a compass for a theme. Joe DeMarco also created the life-sized moose and horse which were posted earlier in the life of this blog, and his work never ceases to amaze. His property is filled with old trucks, cars and busses which, along with treasures unearthed in junk yards, serve as fodder for his art. This gallery owns a large work, similar to this piece, and it was placed at the front of the property as a sort of gift to the neighborhood. Everyone under ten loved it, the adult's were a little more reserved! Several unknown someone's, immune to the joys of art, came one night with a truck and a chain (the work called "Collection" weighs at least half a ton) and they dragged it down, along with several basketball hoops, set up by neighbors for their kids. Makes you wonder what's going through some people's heads! It took a month to right the sculpture and move it about 60 feet back from the road, so as not to tempt the idiots who tried to destroy it.

Outsider Artist, Paul Pitt's Masterpiece

2009-01-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

"Barn Raising at the Yellow Farmhouse" is a masterful painting by Paul Pitt, which caught the eye of the creative people at Newman's Own. Paul Newman and his longtime partner and friend A.E Hotchner started this communitarian business because of their love of food and their charitable committment to their community. Newman was highly regarded for his famous CT "Whole in the Wall Gang" camp for kids dealing with cancer. When an magazine article about their business was published, Paul Pitt's canvas depicting folks in the Shaker community helping each other was a perfect choice to grace the cover. This stunning painting, reminiscent of the work of Grandma Moses, is now available for sale. Check an earlier post for museums that own his work, and check out my website here for more information and more paintings.

Collage by Kathy Carvellas.....self-taught artist

2009-01-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

Look what I found! Kathy Carvellas is a self-taught artist from Pasadena California, who started experimenting with clip art in 2004. She evolved into creating original works utilizing both collage and assemblage, and has shown her works to great acclaim. Recently, two of her pieces were part of a silent auction to benefit Doctor's Without Borders. Kathy previously studied Marine Biology, and she has performed successfully as an actress. This is definitely someone to watch!

Outsider art inside the Gallery (designed by owner)

2008-12-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a private dealer in Outsider and Artbrut Art at Beverly Kaye Gallery and have over 400 images and supporting text on-line. The actual gallery is in rural Woodbridge, CT, six miles up the road from Yale, and is open by appointment. The gallery, an extension to my home, took two maddening years from my initial drawings to completion. Here's a peek at one of the walls supporting my interest in American Indian pottery, basketry and sculpture. The pieces I have chosen to represent are top examples from each of my artists, all of whom have been placed in private as well as museum collections. During the year I deal mainly with works on paper, canvas and board, but in June I hold the annual Sculpture in the Garden show which dresses the property in a dazzling display of recycled metal, stone, and wood, transformed into giant sunflowers, dancers, musicians, horses, robots, dragonflies, muffler men and garden whimsies.
The gallery has been awarded as a Forbes Magazine "Best of the Web", and "Incredible Art Site of the Week" for months running!
The black floors still look stunning after 6 years, probably because I kick off my shoes the minute I enter the door! If you click on the image the photo gets larger and easier to peruse.

Frank Bentley, English Outsider Artist

2008-12-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

Years ago, I was introduced to the lovely and delicate works of Frank Bentley. Often his point of view was overhead, looking down on romantic little fishing villages and coves filled with small boats and even smaller people. "Fingals Island" was always a favorite. Other paintings of Bentley's were charming pieces equally welcomed in a nursery as a foyer, and "Three Goldfish in a Jam Jar" and "Green Cat with Green Fish" are two that come to mind. So whimsical and appealing. I wish they were mine, so I share them with you.

Outsider collector goes inside.......art trail

2008-12-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

With my new Garmin Nuvi in hand, or I should say, on dash, I'm heading out to participate in an exciting Art Trail this weekend.
A few of my favorite artists are participating, and this is a great way to visit them, see their new work, and enjoy some of the most fascinating homes and studios in CT. My first stop will the magnificent home of Leslie Giuliani in Weston. Art is in the blood of this woman who works in too many disciplines to mention them all. She's a fabulous cook and baker, and her charcoal drawings, look under the New Artists button at Beverly Kaye Gallery and her encaustics and woven works boggle the mind. Here is a stool she created that I truly covet. Her mother has designed rugs with primitive art themes that have to be seen to be believed.
Dalton Ghetti, who actually fashions microscopic art out of the lead of a pencil, and Frances Palmer, one of my all time favorite potters will also be on the trail. You'll see handmade silver and gold jewelry, collage, paintings, knitted garments, etchings, woodcuts, and much more. These are top quality artisans and this is quite an event.
If you go, start at 3 Burr Farms Road in Westport and maps will be available for the rest of the trail. You can also go to www.HolidayArtTrail.com and download a map. See you on the road!

Helga Hornung in her studio.........

2008-11-30T14:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a wonderful picture of German artist Helga Hornung working in her atelier. You can see her technique of moving and manipulating the paint with her hand. Jesse Reno does the same thing in the background of his works. They both then use a black outline to add further layering to their paintings. Two gifted artists, same unusual technique. Helga's works have a universal appeal and her books (" The Little Lalu" series) are popular with normal, as well as challenged children. I love seeing works in progress and learn so much from these in studio photos.

Unbelievable Outsider Artist with Music on His Mind

2008-11-23T14:40:00.000-08:00

It's really unbelievable what an artist can construct from wood, wire, concrete, and string. Dirk Dahl makes these fascinating figures from his imagination, and he also makes his rendition of famous jazz musicians that are pretty amazing. Two postings of the first, and a trio of the second will speak for themselves.

Sandy Mastroni, Outsider at Red Dot.........

2008-11-12T16:28:00.000-08:00

My pal, Sandy Mastroni is an Outsider artist who reinvents herself on a weekly basis. Her puzzle piece ladies will be featured at Miami's Red Dot show coming up soon! I saw a few of them in person today, at her lovely CT home which resembles a page out of Cottage Living. Every surface is decorated in Sandy's quirky, Alice in Wonderland style and when I'm there, I feel like I'm in a dream, embedded in the 1800's, populated with 4 curious cats. Anyway, back to the art. The women are painted on puzzle pieces, both large and small, and are reminiscent of Vargas faces, but with more style (and clothes). You can see other examples of her art work under the "New Artists" button here.

Another Self-taught Art Beaded Piano

2008-11-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

That last image was breathtaking, I know! I have gotten so many positive responses to New Orleans artist, John Lawson's beaded piano, that I'm posting another one, this time a Baby Grand. He calls it "Booker" and if you look carefully you will see the portrait of this Jazz musician on the top of the case. John's next show is at Honfleur Gallery in Washington, DC from November 15th to January 2nd, and will include re-traced drawings encased in encaustic wax, photography, and sculpture using the salvaged Mardi Gras beads. What a talent!

Beaded pianos, self-taught art at it's best

2008-11-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

A friend, John Lawson, created the most extraordinary art objects colleged with Mardi Gras beads. He wandered the streets after the celebration was over and collected hundreds of pounds of these garishly bright beads. Then came hours of soaking and cleaning. Then sorting colors. And then the magic began!

These are life sized pianos covered, in a jazz theme, with the collected beads. This one is an old New Orleans Honky Tonk piano and is totally playable, right down to the "Jelly Roll Morton" twang. The pianos have been shown in museums and are part of great private art collections. They are really beyond belief! This is the hight of recycling, don't you think?

Outsider no more

2008-11-05T05:59:00.000-08:00

With each step President-elect Barack Obama walks, up the stairs of both Congress and the White House, steps literally made by slaves, he will be lifting off the tarnish of both the American dream and America's reputation. His presence will announce loud and clear that there is freedom in this great place. Freedom and choice for his children, my children, and our children's children. This is a joyous day for people of all colors, faiths and parties. Congratulations to America, to the Obamas and to the Bidens. Prepare for a steep climb and go in peace.

Not Outsider Art, but fun fun fun

2008-11-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

Obviously not Outsider art, but do you remember being given these comical little guys, called JoBos? If you squeezed them their ears, eyes and tongue would pop out, much to the delight of any little person in the room. I found the molds which they were made from on Martha's Vineyard this summer. We all need a laugh in these tense times, so this was mine.

American Indian Dolls

2008-10-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Do you love dolls, even though you're completely grown up? The doll on the left is a Jingle Wacipi doll created for me by my friend Suzan Ablaya of Germany. The doll is wearing the ceremonial dress of a Jingle Dancer. When the dancer moves the sound harkens to gentle rain falling, and the dancer brings honor to her family.
The middle doll was found at the Brimfield Antique Show and was created by the couple who made all the American Indian artifacts for the film "Dances With Wolves". Her dress is an exact replica of the dresses decorated with shells, which are still worn in ceremonies today.
The third dress, covered with a beautifully beaded upside down American Flag on the shoulders, is a replica of an antique dress which I fell in love with and had Suzan interpret in this doll. Her methods of doll making are exactly to the specifications of the antique dresses. She uses the same type of treated leather, shell, beads, and buffalo, human, and horse hair. Her stitching is superb and each doll is a masterpiece.

Art Brut? Outsider Art? or just Art

2008-10-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

Pedro Martin DeClet created several Portraits de Genocide, depicting martyrs of ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic and American Indian. The first piece in the series was created while DeClet was serving a term in prison. Its finish was floor wax, made possible by a supportive staff member. The rest of the series has been created as a free man. I chose this large version (about 5 ft. tall) to show you, as it's Pedro at his best. More of his work, is available at my gallery, and eventually will make it to the web site
http://www.artbrut.com

Pedro also compulsively re-examines the self-portrait. The outer guise changes from devil to angel, warrior to clarion. His physical scars are always apparent; the psychological scars remain hidden below layers of paint and wax. The repeated retelling begs for a witness; the validation of a witness helps to ameliorate the pain. His prison years and his involvement with the Latin Kings are far behind him, only occasionally resurfacing as fodder for his art.

Pedro is exquisitely aware of the art world, and the poetry and prose of the most renowned authors and wordsmiths; however, his work is not at all derivative. It is purely his own vision, his own pain. He dares you not to turn away, and he demands that you see his powerful images barely contained within the context of the paper. His use of color is seductive, giving the eye a resting place before revisiting the image in its entirety. Although completely self-taught, his frequent use of both Latin and Spanish text within his work gives it a unique sophistication. His self-portraits reveal him as he is--sweet, moody, confrontational, scarred, and hopeful.

AOL makes me cry!

2008-10-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I received the first (AOL claims it was the second) e-mail from them stating that as of October 31st they were crashing all web sites built on their hometown pages. That means me.....all 400 hundred images, text and articles I've posted over the years relating to Art Brut and Outsider Art. I picked myself up off the floor and contacted someone who is trying to reconstruct them as we speak. Being a perfectionist, I'm freaking out. Should any of you visit the site in the next few weeks, please be assured that it will look more cohesive as time goes on.
Solely to make myself feel better I'm posting an ancient photo of my Mom and me on the beach in Hyannisport when I was small and the world felt safe! I'm the chubby one in my Mother's lap.

Outsider artist, up from the street

2008-10-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, my son and I visited a street fair in Georgetown, DC. Although all the artists showing their work were either fine artists or craftspeople, I always keep my eye open for the untrained outsider artist who might make a space for themselves at the fringes of a show. We were in luck, as Matt Sesow and his then girl friend were arranging Matt's paintings against the facade of a building. To see Matt Sesow's paintings is to share in a bit of his reality. A landing airplane hit and severed his left arm at the age of eight, forcing him to become right handed. The physical and emotional pain of the trauma has left a clear mark on Matt's work. In 1994, at the age of 28, he began painting. His titles, such as "Painting by Remembers", "Lost Luggage", "Alone in Death", and "Sucker Punch", are more than subtle hints of the turmoil he has experienced. He views painting as a way to communicate his emotions and experiences in an immediate and powerful manner. He talks of "punching" the paint on his surface, and the turbulence it creates grabs at the viewer, never quite letting go. Blood red backgrounds, angry and averted orange eyes, heavily outlined figures not able to stay within the confines of the canvas, are hallmarks of his style. I represented him for the next 5 years before he decided to go out on his own. Many of his earlier works are in my collection and this painting called "Almsman" (30" x 40"), a particularly strong example of his work, has come on the market again. More of his paintings can be seen at http://www.artbrut.com

Outsider Art Panos

2008-10-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

These Panos were created by Chicano prisoners on 15" square cotton handkerchiefs purchased in the comassary of the Texas institutions where they were serving their time. Many are tokens of love for Mothers, girlfriends, children, and/or gang members left on the outside. The two examples here were meant for fellow gang members, and the gang iconography and prison symbols are evident. Pieces made for children often have cartoon references and for Mothers, the Virgin Mary is a predominant theme. The panos represent the spirit of the prisoners and are hung on walls awaiting the return of their creators. When the men are released, the panos are taken down and in the past they often were discarded. Nowadays, they are collected by agents and dealers and are finding their way into folk art collections all over the world.

Alexandra Huber in DC

2008-09-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

At the Folk Art Society of America conference in Washington, DC, dealers will be bringing works of Folk and Outsider Art to augment the festivities. This year I will have over 40 examples of the "smalls" by Alexandra Huber. A new book of her art called "Guidance to Be" by H. Dietrich has just been published and she currently has a one woman show in Berlin. If there is an interest, I will also try to bring a few of Anthony Guyther's "Symbolist Collages", many of which are illustrated in the book by the same name. His work can be seen at http://www.artbrut.com

I hope to see many of you there. Bette-Carol Sellen has helped to plan a terrific tour of both private and public collections, including her own, and I cannot wait to see them. This will be a real treat.

Daniel Pearson.... Outsider artist

2008-09-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

After being shut-in due to a traumatic spinal injury, Daniel Pearson began to find his voice in paint. He makes use of both house paint and acrylics and his figural pieces, done in a brilliant color pallet, caught my eye. He falls into the outsider category, and this self-taught painter has the beginnings of a terrific portfolio. Here are my favorite three paintings. I'd love to know what you think!

Karl Mckoy, street artist extraordinaire

2008-09-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

Every year I look forward to seeing my pal Karl Mckoy outside of the Outsider Art Fair. He's one of a number of self-taught street artists who display their works in the bitter January cold. His collage faces, utilizing shoelaces, metal, string, paint, and God knows what, are intriguing to say the least. Lucky collectors, when they return to homes or hotels, are rewarded with seeing the brilliant colors, and the wonderful prose of the titles written on the back. This first purchase of mine says, "If what their saying is true and God is a woman, I've got some questions for her." Last night on the phone I discovered that Karl is also an avid gardener. I should not be surprised. This lovely man makes art wherever he goes.

Helga Hornung from Germany

2008-08-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

I recently received a CD filled with the loveliest images by German artist Helga Hornung. I've chosen two paintings to share with you. In September 1998 her first picture book for children was published on Rex-Verlag, Luzern: "The little Lalu". The texts are added with Bliss-Symbols, "which are easily understood by non-speaking children and those who are mentally disordered". This book has been translated now into several languages and is one of a series. Her tender portrayals of motherly love and her painterly technique make her a winner in my book.