live from new york
this week in outsider art includes views from the fair, the artwork and life of james ash, new works available in folkartwork collective shop plus maria prymachenko
Trying to collect my thoughts on where and how to share all the amazing sights and sounds from the Outsider Art Fair as I sit here in my New York City hotel room on the 24th floor overlooking a rainy and foggy city.
I think the best way to tackle this is to treat this newsletter as normal as possible, highlighting the top ten or twelve most exciting and brilliant works of art we were fortunate enough to enjoy this week with a smattering of images from not only the Outsider Art Fair, but my visit to Ricco/Maresca and Cavin-Morris, Christie’s Outsider Art Auction, and the mindblowing Maria Prymachenko exhibit at the Ukrainian Museum.
Later this week, I will share a special newsletter dedicated to the Outsider Art Fair. I mean, I still have one more day to see what I missed and stand longingly in front of these ‘CC’ rugs with Jerry.
To see views from the Outsider Art Fair now, head over to the @folkartwork Instagram.
THIS WEEK IN OUTSIDER ART
for daily postings of outsider art visit folkartwork.art or follow on Instagram
» LEARN MORE: The Artwork of James Ash, As Told By His Daughter Singer/Songwriter Anna Ash «
» free preview of this week’s B-B-Bonus This Week in Outsider Art newsletter «
» READ: 13 Black Folk Artists From The American South on DailyArtMagazine «
» Dinah Hanson-Carrillo’s Beautiful and Mysterious Work Available In The FolkArtwork Collective Shop «
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Two of the earliest works by world-renowned artist Judith Scott, both from 1988. The top is one of only ten drawings that Judith created, and the bottom is the third-ever fiber sculpture she created! As seen at the Creative Growth curated space at the Outsider Art Fair. Talking to Tom di Maria, director of Creative Growth, about these was truly a treat.
After 40 years of being institutionalized, Judith's twin sister rescued her and helped set her up at Creative Growth, the first-ever space for artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities, back in the late 80s. For two years, Judith only created ten drawings. Born with Down syndrome and being undiagnosed deaf for over forty years, Judith had no real way to communicate. It was clear she didn't really enjoy drawing, but when she stopped, her hand kept moving in a circular fashion.
Finally, when a touring artist came in to give a class about fiber arts, Judith couldn't stop making and creating these fantastic works of fiber art for which she is known today. It doesn't get much cooler than this!
OH WORD?
The Artwork of James Ash, As Told By His Daughter Anna Ash
About two weeks ago now, I received an email from someone who wanted to share the works her father had created years ago. I often will receive cold call emails and messages asking to see lots of art, in fact I love it! But I had never seen art like this before, or was not prepared to hear the story of how this email was to wind up in my inbox.
James Ash, whose works you’ll find here, always wanted to be an art teacher. For various reasons, including addiction, mental health, and living without internet in the Michigan woods, he never became a teacher. But that didn’t stop him from making some jaw-dropping art.
In 2021, James Ash passed away at the age of seventy-one. Months later, his daughter, singer/songwriter Anna Ash had the task of cleaning out his cabin in the woods and deciding what to do with all of his belongings, including over two dozen large, colorful, surreal, and enigmatic paintings.
It probably would have been pretty easy for Anna to throw them into the dumpster. No one else really wanted them. As she explains in her unpublished telling of her relationship with her father and his paintings, they had an up-and-down relationship throughout his life — as is all too common in families who experience addiction and mental health struggles. But there was something intimate about these paintings, something special that needed to be saved and shared with as many people as possible.
“The death of an absent parent, and an addict parent, hits like a wind. You don’t fall over immediately – you just stand there, taking it. You knew it was coming. Eventually, it’s too cold or too strong or too full of sand for you to stand, but at first, it’s just wind, pushing you around and drying you out because it’s hard to miss what was never there.” — excerpt written by Anna Ash from her unpublished book “My Father’s Paintings”
The works speak for themselves, but paired with Anna’s book — which I was fortunate enough and very grateful to read — helps fill in a lot of blanks and tells the story about the life of James, his imperfect life and art-making, as well as Anna’s remarkable quest to bring peace to a tumultuous relationship with her father and his works that no longer fit comfortably in her apartment.
Stay tuned for updates on the publication of Anna’s book and a potential Los Angeles exhibit of James Ash’s works of art. Thanks to Anna Ash for saving and sharing these works.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM NYC
Photos, videos, and recaps are to come, but for now, here are a few little highlights.
“Maria Prymachenko: Glory to Ukraine” at the Ukrainian Museum
“A Conference Of Birds - Art Brut” And More From Iran at Cavin-Morris Gallery
Christie’s Outsider Art Auction
Outsider Art Day One
Outsider Art Fair Day Two
Outsider Art Fair Day Three
SHOUT OUT
Please enjoy Marmalade Mountain with ‘Drawing Circles on the Ground’.
Really hoping to start sharing MORE music here in 2024 as FolkArtwork continues to grow and highlight talented visual artists past and present and the beautiful folksy singer/songwriters making magic today, like this magical goodness.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
13 Black Folk Artists From The American South on DailyArtMagazine
The Artwork of James Ash, As Told By His Daughter Singer/Songwriter Anna Ash
Dinah Hanson-Carrillo’s Beautiful and Mysterious Work Available In The FolkArtwork Collective Shop
Norval Morrisseau is the ‘Picasso of The North’, Learn More on DailyArtMagazine.com
Ben Gardner’s Visionary Artwork Joins The FolkArtwork Collective
Shop Original Artwork From Self-Taught Artists Around The Globe
The Greatest List of All-Time for Must-Watch Documentaries on Outsider Artists
Art Environments in the Midwest: Photos, Videos, Info, and more!
Change Makers: Stories that Inspire: Life & Work with Adam Oestreich
FROM THE COLLECTIVE
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» free preview of this week’s B-B-Bonus This Week in Outsider Art newsletter «