Creative Impulse: Readings-Jerry Saltz on the Outsider Art Fair-and Why There’s No Such Thing As ‘Outsider’ Art

This article resonates with me on different levels. Jerry and I definitely share similar views about what makes an artist an artist and what is considered museum quality art. Art is my outlet. It is the outpour of feelings that I can no longer contain, the voice that speaks for me when I cannot seem to form any words for myself. For anyone to be pushed aside because they were not classically trained almost infuriates me. I know its confusing that I use the word "almost." I understand why rules must be made, I understand that standards should be asked for; however, I've seen plenty of traditional artists work that doesn't impress me in the slightest, but there are outsider artists' like Emma Kunz who make me stand in awe.

As a woman, I feel even more compelled by this article. Women were ignored too long in history simply because of gender. Talent is talent and Jerry made that point across perfectly not just for women but all outsiders. Museums need to evolve and grow with the times. Not every amazing work will be made by a traditionally trained artist. I know that not every outsider artist is going to be able to make a name for himself but I implore the committees (or whomever is in charge of the museum/gallery) to broaden their horizons or they will be left behind.

Creative Impulse: Readings- The White Bird by John Berger

Art is a tool people use to evoke emotion whether it may be positive, negative, or anything in between. When we look out into the world and something gives us a certain sensation our goal is to make others feel what we felt. I laughed because it was so true when John said that throughout many cultures we find ourselves attracted to similar things found in nature. Artists see, feel, and then make. We try to replicate in our own ways what we've seen through our own eyes and try to create something new, something that will make someone else simply feel.

I've never understood why something that is utilitarian (like a bowl or in this case a bird), which yes by pure definition is supposed to be "practical rather than attractive," cannot also be seen as aesthetically pleasing. Our world is not black and white, it's full of hundreds of shades of gray. The way John talks us through the process of making that small, wooden, white bird is beautiful to me. Each step is important and there are layers of complexity to its meaning. It's not just a commoner's little white bird, to him it is so much more: it is a symbol of hope passed down through tradition.

Creative Impulse: Exercises- Paper Folding

As soon as the assignment was given out my brain immediately thought of making this paper swan. My Abuela showed me how to makes this years ago, although I would originally make it out of fancy napkins. I also had made a little lily pad to go with it but sadly I crushed it before I knew we had to take a picture of it... oh well.

WARP sample blog

Hi Class, 

Please copy and paste the following text to use as your first blog post. It will also serve as a reference for you when organizing and labeling your blog posts:

Labels Help You Organize

All blog posts must be labeled with two keywords, which blogger calls Labels. When faculty visits your blog for evaluation purposes, we will use the labels to quickly find your work. If you do not use the keywords properly, we will not be able to find your work. Proper set-up and maintenance of your blog falls under the Research and Participation part of your grade which counts for 30% of the overall semester grade. 

Topical Keywords

The first set of keywords correspond to the module we are working in. We will refer to these as topical keywords since they correspond to the topic we are exploring over the two-week periods. Your first group of posts will be labeled under Topic: Creative Impulse since this is the first topic (Topic #1). Here are the topical keywords you will use through out the semester:

Topic: Creative Impulse

Topic: Pattern and Ornament

Topic: Rhinoceros

Topic: Narrative

Topic: Landscape

Topic: Zine

Categorical Keywords

The second set of keywords will organize your posts according to kind. Here are the Keywords you will use for Labels:

Exercises - tag for posts documenting all assigned exercises. The first one will be the paper folding exercise from the first class. 

Readings - tag for posts containing your two paragraph responses to the assigned readings. The first ones will be for "The White Bird" and the Jerry Saltz article from Vulture.com. 

Small Works - tag for posts documenting all assigned small works. The first blog post labeled Small Works will contain images and accompanying descriptions of the three small works you complete for the Creative Impulse Module (Topic #1). 

In-Depth Projects - tag for posts documenting all assigned In-Depth projects. The first blog post labeled In-Depth Projects will contain images (or video if appropriate) and accompanying descriptions of the more robust work you produce in response to the Creative Impulse Module (Topic #1).

Outside Visits - tag for posts containing your two paragraph responses to all required visits outside of the classroom. These include visits we do together as a class [during class time] or individually outside of class time. 

Please be sure to use both a topical and categorical keyword when labeling your posts.

Next Steps

1. After copying and pasting this text into your first blog post, create your labels from the keywords we listed above. In the Edit post window you will find an area titles Labels where you can add your own custom labels to your blog. This is where you will add the keywords we listed above. Please be sure to add all keywords to the Labels window for this first blog post. 

The easiest way to do this is by copying and pasting the following text into the Labels window for this blog post:

Topic: Creative Impulse, Topic: Pattern and Ornament, Topic: Rhinoceros, Topic: Narrative, Topic: Landscape, Topic: Zine, Exercises, Readings, Small Works, In-Depth Projects, Outside Visits

Here's a screen shot of what that looks like, and where to find Labels when editing a post

2. Now you are ready to create and label your first post. This will be the post for your in-class paper folding exercise. 

It should include a photo of your paper exercise and be labeled with the following two keywords: Topic: Creative Impulse, Exercises

3. Once you have complete all the above steps, please email a link to your new blog ito me at: lambert.nwsa [at] gmail [dot] com. We will link your blog to the Art Unfolded blog. 

Looking forward to a great semester!