Outsider Art.

[Dr Chris James]

The wonderful thing about gathering material for a book is you meet so many nice people. Last weekend I visited Boinga Bob's Outsider Temple. I thought I would share some of his art with you.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thx EH

Glad to pass it along, Chris. The mail-art network has been a primary conduit for concrete poetry, vispo, asemic writing & related forms probably since circa 1950s. Until the internet, it was all underground - a huge alternative culture evolving globally.

[Dr Chris James]

Thank you for the link.  I haven't read the entire anthology yet, but what I have read and observed is very interesting and, you are right, the language use is very similar to the visuals [alliterations] in Outsider Art.  I have been examining Asemic Writing, some of which is similar; maybe a little more abstract.  There are lots of useful trends in these works.  Asemic Writing, for instance is being used in meditation to help people overcome anxieties.  This gets some criticism from mainstream artists [it's not art], but I think it's great when people can find purpose in their creations whatever the genres.

   

[Eraser Heed]

Sounds like a nice subject to learn more about Dr Chris James!
@DVS; great link!

[De Villo Sloan]

Chris James, even more closely aligned to mail-art than Outsider Art is "Otherstream" lit. (term coined by Bob Grumman). Here is a link to a recent Otherstream anthology. Many of the folks included have been active in mail-art for years. Some are current IUOMA members:

http://www.argotistonline.co.uk/SHADOWS%20OF%20THE%20FUTURE.pdf

[Dr Chris James]

The definition of Outsider has widened in recent years.  It now means self-taught artists and/or those who are 'outside' the main stream.  I would classify Mail Art as 'Outside' because it challenges the bourgeoisie notion of 'high art' and creates art for everyone.  Mail Art also speaks to the meaning of social and political change.  

The lives of Outsider artists are very interesting,  they help us to understand why people feel they are on the 'Outside" or why they find themselves there.  There is a lot of misunderstanding about why people live Outside the norm. There is a general view that causes relate to poverty, poor education and/or mental illness.  This is far from the truth.  There are some brilliant minds amidst Outsiders and some truly beautiful people.

 If anyone has more examples of Outsider Art they would like to share. I would like to investigate them. [Please include names and locations]. 

This is an important genre and everywhere in the world these artists are not given the respect they deserve; all to often they are punished for their art.   If you don't want to post publically you can contact me on [e-mail]

[Eraser Heed]

Some mail artists could be called Outsiders if they did not network so much :)

[Susan McAllister]

I love Raw Viaion. I highly recommend it.

[Eraser Heed]

Wonderful houses. Used to get the magazine Raw Vision home, a paper about outsider artists from all over the world with excellent pictures and text. 

[DKeys]

This reminds me of the Heidelberg Project in Detroit. Some amazing homes like this one:

[Susan McAllister]

Outsider art is my very favorite. Thanks for showing us this wonderful art.