Write of Artistic Passage

When I applied last year to the Ravenswood Artwalk, I did so with several "goals/objectives" in mind. I wanted, and honestly needed, more show experience. After taking an 18 month hiatus to find and connect to a new voice, challenge my artistic ability and emerge, RAW was the perfect venue for me. A wonderful and gracious artist community, it presented itself at the right time as did their acceptance into it. I had no idea the full impact or after effect doing RAW would have on me until now, a year later. 

Copyright 2011 Marilyn Grad

This show raised the bar for me. It gave me my new direction, a personal and competitive challenge, focus and clarity. It rewarded me on many levels. I had to get rid of the mental and physical clutter first. Doing so has made me a tad calmer, more determined and a tad more confident. (I say that now. Wait until my next show.)

Copyright 2011 Marilyn Grad

Actually my next show is coming up. It is this weekend. And proudly again, it is the Ravenswood Artwalk 10th Annual Tour of Arts and Industry.  Click here, or preceding RAW link, to find artist locations (alpha by first name) and more details about the show. I'll have some of my Geisha, Inspirational and Whim(sical) mixed media wall art, and bangles to show and sell. I'll gratefully be wearing my RAW Artist 2011 button and a smile at 4611 N. Ravenswood, 1st floor. # 18 on show map.

Click here for show map.
 
Come celebrate Chicago Artists' Month!! Give my art a new home!

Help remove Clutter so I can make more.

Homage to Outsider Art and Other Stuff

Ever since I decided to go from painting boxes to wall art, I've been going through all kinds of liberating stuff - inside and out. I am, for all in tense (well, this process can be intense ) and purposes, a self-taught artist. Translation: not degreed in Art. To confidently and comfortably reinvent and call myself an "artist" took time and much appreciated acceptance and validation. A work in progress...still.

One of the styles of art that has helped me grow and liberate me is Outsider Art. I relate to the name alone. I have always had an attraction and appreciation for Outsider Art. The creators of outsider art just create. They feel and may hear things, perhaps of a religious or political order. They are not caught up in perfection or so it appears (like someone I know.) They re-purpose and recycle. There can be poor grammar and misspelled words. But Outsider artists have purity of intentions.

Last year I went to see the Stranger in Paradise exhibit (3x) which highlighted the works the late Reverend Howard Finster and even more recently the Outsider/Folk Art exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum two weeks ago. (I have links that describe Outsider Art and the works of Rev. Howard Finster, so please look.) Both exhibits opened me up. 

In my quest to free my creativity up and loosen up on the perfectionism, I'm enjoying some of the qualities of an Outsider artist:

Copyright @2011 Marilyn Grad

This is a work in progress. The finished version will be on my website next week. I cluttered it up a bit with more writing. 

 

And in less than two weeks, I will be participating once again in the Ravenswood Artwalk.
A show!!! An indoor show!!!  :))))) I am preparing for that now. You might just see some of my Outsider influenced art there.  More on that next time.