Dan's Papers - November 23, 2007 - "Nothing is Black and White" at Art Sites Gallery

A very special art show will be opening on December 1 at Art Sites Gallery in Riverhead entitled "Nothing is Black and White" featuring works by outsider, visionary, art singulier and intuitive artists from all over the world. Candyce Brokaw, a local outsider artist from Quogue, and Glynis Berry, who owns the Art Sites Gallery, will curate the show, which will run through February 3.

Although it is difficult to categorize, the type of art that will be shown can roughly be described as outsider art. Outsider art is a self-taught art. The artists have little to no formal training. This particular type of art is created primarily through stream of consciousness. Many outsider artists suffer from mental illness, which is the force that drives their creativity, making it all the more beautiful. In 1922, Dr. Hans Prinzhorn published a book titled Bildernerei der Geisteskranken, which translates to "artistry of the mentally ill." Prinzhorn's book consisted of a collection of works created by psychiatric patients and it became popular amongst surrealists and other artists of that time. In 1948, Jean Dubuffet coined the term "art brut," which referred to works of art that were created by untrained artists who had little concept of art galleries or art work other than their own. Today art brut is referred to as outsider art in the United States.

In France, outsider art is referred to as art singulier. Danielle Jacqui, Gerard Sendrey and Ody Saban are three French artists whose work will be featured in the show. Jacqui's work is pen and ink on paper pieced together with glue, and then finally varnished. Her drawings are so detailed that one could stare for hours, discovering new patterns with the passing time. "She is one of the grandmas of the art singulier festival," said Brokaw. Jacqui's home in France is a thousand piece one-woman show. "If the surface doesn't move she is going to paint it," added Brokaw. Including ceramic sculpture, Jacqui's home is literally covered in artwork, inside out and from top to bottom. It will become a museum one day in Pont de I'Etoile-en Provence, the village that she lives in.

Cynthia Lund Torrell of Wisconsin will be showing works of pencil on paper. Like many of the artists, she began drawing later in life at the age of 35. Her drawings look so real and lifelike that it is hard to imagine that she is self-taught. Torrell writes about her drawings, "The faces I draw are ones that I will never tire of looking at. Drawing gives me an outlet to exercise an extra sense that cannot be fulfilled in any other way."

Brokaw also feels a strong connection to drawing. Creating art is therapeutic for her. Over a decade ago she began to create art through stream of consciousness and today has much success to show for it. "There is no plan when I draw," she said. Her tile sized drawings resemble clips from cartoons, each telling its own story. "These give me a lot of pleasure to draw. One is like where's Waldo gone psychotic." All of the characters in her drawings represent someone in real life. "Some people are my mother or my father, some people share eyes, noses or mouths," she explained.

Also on display will be works by Donna Balma, Jim Bloom, Ross Brodar, Paul Gasoi, Anne Grgich, John Levien, Peter Marbury, Mark May and Uncle Frank Verni. Uncle Frank's nephew recovered much of his artwork from the garbage after he passed away. He was an established artist who lost his mind later in life and began to create what his nephew recognized as outsider art. Each artist brings an interesting and unique talent to the show.

All of the artwork on display will be for sale and some prices will be a steal. There are so many amazing pieces that would make fantastic gifts for the holidays such as handbags, jewelry boxes and one-of-a-kind robots made from old-fashioned treasures, so there will be something for everyone. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to Candyce Brokaws' foundation, the Survivors Art Foundation.

There will be three events surrounding the art show including an opening reception on December 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. and an educational arts forum sponsored by the North Fork Arts Project where artists will participate in discussions on December 2 at 1 p.m. Finally, on December 8 and January 19 from 5 to 7 p.m., poetry readings from the North Sea poetry scene will be held. All events will be held at the Art Sites Gallery, located at 651 West Main Street in Riverhead. For more information call (631) 591-2401. To learn more about the Survivors Art Foundation visit survivorsartfoundation.org.