Outsider Art Fair 2011

Details: Parent Category: Other Festivals; Category: Art/Antiques; Published on Saturday, 12 February 2011 01:51; Written by L E Shannon

Section of Untitled by Martin Ramirez One of New York’s most popular fairs returns with Sanford L. Smith & Associates’ 19th Annual Outsider Art Fair, being held February 11 - 13, 2011 at 7 W. 34th Street, near Fifth Avenue, in New York City.

The Fair began 19 years ago, showcasing an otherwise unrecognized market at that time. Since then, this event has brought international attention to art created outside of mainstream society — visionary, primitive, self-taught, and intuitive in nature.

This year’s exhibitors are:

American Primitive Gallery
The Ames Gallery
Galerie Christian Berst
Bodell Umbrella Arts
Galerie Bonheur
Galerie Bourbon-Lally
Henry Boxer Gallery
Grey Carter - Objects of Art
Cavin-Morris Gallery
Creative Growth Art Center
The Electric Pencil
Andrew Edlin Gallery
Fountain Gallery
Gilley's Gallery
C. Grimaldis Gallery
The Gallery at HAI
Carl Hammer Gallery
Marion Harris
Galerie Atelier Herenplaats
Dean Jensen Gallery
Just Folk
Yukiko Koide Presents
Lindsay Gallery
Maxwell Projects
Olof Art Gallery
Outsider Folk Art Gallery
The Pardee Collection
Ricco/Maresca Gallery
Stephen Romano
Judy A. Saslow Gallery
Tanner-Hill Gallery
Wasserwerk.Galerie Lange
Marcia Weber Art Objects

Some of the Exhibitions:

Cavin-Morris Gallery (New York City) is including work by Josef Hofer.

Galerie St. Etienne (New York City) brings works from their current exhibition, Self-taught Painters in America 1800-1950: Revisiting the Tradition (now running through April 2).

Gilley's Gallery (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) has been home to an extensive collection of Folk and Outsider art with a special emphasis on the paintings of Louisiana Folk Artist Clementine Hunter. For this year's show, several paintings are being presented dating from the 1940's and 50's (roughly the beginning of a 40 year career).

Gilley’s is also showing parts of a recently acquired collection of work by Louisiana Outsider artist David Butler, who created his fanciful sculptures of crudely fashioned tin and found objects.

In addition, their exhibit includes the whimsical carvings of contemporary folk artists Shane Campbell (including one of Ray Charles sitting at his piano), the brightly colored paintings of Sarah Rakes, as well as an assortment of pieces by Willie/Willie.

Outsider Folk Art Gallery (Reading, PA) declares “The honesty of pure creativity is what we seek & represent.” They bring works by Martín Ramírez and Jim Bloom, among others.

Other highlights:

Dr. Thomas Röske gives a special talk about the Prinzhorn Collection. Before World War II, and before Jean Dubuffet took up the interest of "art brut," Dr. Hans Prinzhorn was already taking special interest in the artwork being created by the patients in his psychiatric hospital in Heidlberg, Germany. Dr. Röske, the current Director, has worked to create accessibility to the works, and to have the collection be seen as relevant in a contemporary art context.

There is also a panel discussion of the role of artist with disabilities in outsider and conte Red Rain by Anna Kuchinsky (Fountain Gallery) mporary art.

The Fair benefits two art centers that celebrate the works of artists with disabilities, both of which are exhibiting at the Fair

Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California – The world’s oldest and largest art center for adult artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, providing a stimulating environment for artistic instruction, gallery promotion and personal expression.

The Fountain Gallery in New York City – This is the premier venue in New York City representing artists with mental illness. Works from their current exhibition, Out of This World are being displayed at the Fair.

For more information visit www.sanfordsmith.com.

19th Annual Outsider Art Fair
February 11-13, 2011

Sanford L. Smith & Associates
7 W 34th Street
New York City