Subscribe to our News feedSF Arts Monthly: Where Outsider Artists Find Their Muse
CE in the News
Creativity Explored was featured in a lead story in the March 2006 edition of SF Arts Monthly. The articles focuses on our curent exhibtion, “Vessels”, and how it came into being. The March article by Jean Shiffman is no longer available online and is quoted here in its entirety.
Where Outsider Artists Find Their Muse
On a weekday morning, two cheerfully cluttered art studios a mile or so apart on 16th Street — one in the Mission District, the other on Potrero Hill—are quietly abuzz as students prepare for “Vessels,” an upcoming exhibit.
Strolling through the two spaces to observe the artworks displayed on the walls, the array of works-in-progress and the activities of the participants, a visitor may encounter curious stares, quizzical nods and, upon introduction, paint-stained hands proffered for friendly shakes. In wheelchairs or ambulatory, speaking a variety of languages (including sign) or entirely nonverbal, these artists, all developmentally disabled, are among the 125 members of Creativity Explored. Many also have physical or psychiatric disabilities. The nonprofit organization provides a venue, tools, professional support, public exposure and sales opportunities.
“We like to think of ourselves as an artists’ collective,” says executive director Amy Taub. “We’re unstructured compared to a formal art school. We don’t teach formal perspective or use of color or [many of the other] things they teach in art schools. We’re a big, open studio. On any given day you’ll see [students working with] ceramics, painting, drawing, fabric art, printmaking, papier mache, pastels, colored pencils. People can get involved with whatever medium they want to work with, and with short-term or long-term projects.”
They are aided by a full- and part-time staff of 20 professional artists, each of whom rotates, working with about six students a day. Like the students, whose ethnicities reflect the diverse population of San Francisco, the teachers too come from all over. And like the students, the instructors’ interests vary, from painting to ceramics to filmmaking and more. Most have been on the staff for 14 to 18 years. “They find it inspirational. It informs their own art,” explains Taub. A visiting artists program offers special workshops that run from eight weeks to four months.
Douglas Morris, who curated “Vessels,” is one of those instructors who thrives as both artist and mentor amidst this unique student population. A painter and scenic artist who also knows sign language, he explains, “Our guys don’t have preconceived ideas of what art is, or what colors go together, or about shape and form. They’re more fluid. When I think of a tree, it’s green and brown. Their concept of a tree might not resemble ours.” Is that because of their lack of formal training, or because of their developmental disability? “It would be an easy out to say that their developmental disability makes them not see a tree as green and brown,” replies Morris. “My belief is that [their] work is so beautiful because they’re untrained. When you’re not taught—that’s freeing. I think it’s due to their creativity,” he concludes.
Taub notes that those with autism are often exceptional artists. “They are able to channel some of the things that cause them difficulty in other job settings—like an intense sense of order—into producing some really beautiful art,” she says. Creativity Explored was established in 1983 by Berkeley psychologist Elias Katz and his late wife, artist Florence Katz. “They thought folks with disabilities might have something to say,” explains Taub. Indeed they do. For the upcoming “Vessels” show, some of participants are revisiting beloved visual themes—cars, the Beatles, flowers and other images. Others are venturing into new artistic territory. For some, it’s all about the process, not the product.
Morris came up with the idea for “Vessels” when he received a gift certificate to the Container Store. He realized that containers were not only ideal for Creativity Explored’s yearly functional art show, but they also provide opportunities for artists with limited dexterity—already existing vessels can be transformed through decoration.
Thus among the display items is Mariela Castillo’s “porcupine box”: a small container coated with textured, rosy celuclay, with little prickly sticks embedded in it. Performing clown Gordon Shepard put a circusy spin on a traveling trunk. Michael Bernard Loggins, a writer, decorated a breadbox with his musings. Toolboxes, board game boxes, a kids’ lunch box, various bowls, cups and jugs, a cat carrying cage—all are painted and decorated.
The show’s centerpiece is a collaborative project dubbed “Armageddon Urn”. About 30 inches wide and 36 inches tall, it has a base of clay, which Eric Boysaw tiled in mosaic patterns. Norman Ballou painted the tiles, and Ann Yamasaki pushed dozens of miniature plastic toys, mostly little soldiers, into two papier mache tiers. For a window display, Robert Feise, 75, with profound cerebral palsy, made three huge illustrations of urns, drawing with a long stick.
“I left [the concept] really open,” explains Morris. “The heart can be a container—for feelings. The brain can be a container—for thoughts. A computer can be a container.” Student artists are referred to Creativity Explored by their social workers. Many have no previous experience making art. Creativity Explored has no screening process, but potential members are asked two questions when they come in: “Does this look like fun?” and “Do you want to try it?” Many, says Taub, are initially intimidated by the quality of the art they see here and it takes them a few months to become acclimated. As for the shows—six per year—students are encouraged, but not coerced, to work toward participating. Works that don’t make it into the show are displayed in-house. All the art at the shows is for sale (at a recent exhibit, prices ranged from $50 to $300), and the artists keep 50 percent of the profit.
“Many of the students have not succeeded in other settings,” observes Taub. “They may have difficulty taking instructions, they may respond to voices no one else can hear, which works fine here. Now it’s becoming viable for some of them to look at art as a career.” Creativity Explored has taken shows to Japan, Sweden and Russia. Often called “outsider art,” the collections have been well received.
“When [visitors] come here, they think the art will be similar to children’s art,” says Taub. “[But] these artists are adults and they bring adult experiences to the art-making process. The work can be very spontaneous, not constricted, similar to children’s art in that way—but it’s not children’s art. Some have developed a unique and sophisticated style of their own.”
Creativity Explored encourages students to draw inspiration from the outside community. Field trips have included visits to the graveyards of Colma to study the sculpture, to the city’s murals and to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Sometimes students go for walks in the countryside, or to sketch outdoors. “It’s all fodder for art,” says Morris.
“Vessels” runs March 9-April 27, Creativity Explored Gallery, 3245 16th Street, San Francisco CA. A celebrity portrait auction and fundraiser will be held March 30, 111 Minna Gallery. (415) 863-2108 www.creativityexplored.org
Learn more about what we do.
Sign up for our mailing list!