Critical reviews (whether of books, plays, films, or exhibitions) are comprised of three basic components. They make a recommendation, they justify the recommendation, and they provide some sort of conceptual underpinning for the work being reviewed. Stated more pedantically, critical reviews tell you what to do, why to do it, and what to think about while you’re doing it.
I point out these structural elements mostly to remind myself that there’s a framework within which to write about the Riffe Gallery’s current exhibition Outside in Ohio: A Century of Unexpected Genius. It’s a much-needed reminder too. Without some sort of framework this exhibition presents so many interesting and viable tangents that it’s nearly impossible to pin down. Is this a show about deeply personal experiences and visions? Yes. Is it a show about the importance of place? Absolutely. Is it an exhibition that furthers our understanding what art in central Ohio looks like today? It is. Is it a show about creativity, human expression, and how we as a society validate those things? Yes. Outside in Ohio is all these things and much more.
So, let’s cut to the chase. What should you do? Go see this show. Now. It’s only up through October 14. You’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t.
Why should you go? Ohio has a rich tradition of outsider art. Artists like Ernest (Popeye) Reed, Elijah Pierce, and William Hawkins are internationally known and widely collected. Outside in Ohio provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the work of these artists and others like them all in one space. It’s a chance to think about similarities and differences, to explore unique perspectives and to ask “Why here? Why Ohio?”. It’s the opportunity to learn about our world not from the macro level of powerful leaders shaping world events, but from the micro level of personal experience and individual stories. Beyond that, Outside in Ohio: A Century of Unexpected Genius is an exhibition of amazing artwork. From the bold, primary compositions of William Hawkins and Chad Sines to the narrative detail of Paul Patton and Mark Thomas, Outside in Ohio presents a rich tapestry of styles that are as inventive as they are unique.
What should you think about? This is where things gets tricky. I couldn’t possibly tell you everything to think about, but I do have a few key suggestions. First, think about outsider art and what it means from the perspective of both the creator and viewer.
Outsider art, for those unfamiliar, is a term coined by Roger Cardinal at the University of Kent to describe art that is made outside the world of art schools, galleries, and museums. One of the most cited definitions comes from Michael Thevoz (Honorary Professor, University of Lausanne) who wrote:
“Art Brut”, or “outsider art”, consists of works produced by people who for various reasons have not been culturally indoctrinated or socially conditioned. They are all kinds of dwellers on the fringes of society. Working outside the fine art “system” (schools, galleries, museums and so on), these people have produced, from the depths of their own personalities and for themselves and no one else, works of outstanding originality in concept, subject and techniques. They are works that owe nothing to tradition or fashion.”
So, think about how we validate and recognize creativity and creation. Is societal recognition and validation even necessary?
Think about the themes that recur in these works. Religion, pop-culture, history and the sense of place feature prominently in the exhibition. Are these themes consistent with what we see in “mainstream art”, or are they different? Why?
Read the artist’s biographies featured in the exhibition. Are there commonalities among the artists featured? Do the biographies tell us anything about the genre?
Think about the current art scene in central Ohio. Artists like Aminah Robinson, Tamara Jaeger, Helma Groot, Charles Wince, and Rick Borg each employ many of the bold, primary, and often primitive elements seen in outsider art. So too do the self-described “low-brow” artists Sharon Dorsey, Cyrus Fire and Dan Gerdeman. How do these artists (some self-taught and others not) relate to the outsider tradition?
Outside in Ohio offers much to consider and not much time left to consider it in, so let’s recap:
What should you do? See this exhibtion.
Why? It’s good. It’s local. It’s important.
What should you think about? All this and more.
Outside in Ohio: A Century of Unexpected Genius is on display at the The Riffe Gallery July 26 to October 14, 2012. For more information visit The Riffe Gallery website.
All images are protected by a photographic copyright that belongs to the Ohio Arts Council.
Elijah Pierce
Good Versus Evil, c.1930s
Wood, paint, cloth
31.5″ x 21.5″
Springfield Museum of Art
Paul Patton
The Muskingum County Fair, 1986
Acrylic on canvas
20″ x 30″
Courtesy of Lindsay Gallery, Columbus
William Hawkins
YMCA, 1981-1982
Paint, formica
39.5″ x 29.5″
Springfield Museum of Art