"American Folk Art Museum Hosts Benefit Preview for Year 2002 Outsider Art Fair "
2002-01-24 until 2002-01-27
American Folk Art Museum
New York, NY, USA United States of America

The Outsider Art Fair, the leading art exposition committed to self-taught and intuitive art, is showcasing 34 international galleries displaying a wide range of art, from drawings to stone sculptures, January 25-27, 2002 at the Puck Building. The opening night benefit preview for the American Folk Art Museum, will be held Thursday, January 24, 2002, at The Puck Building on Lafayette and Houston Streets in New York City, from 6:30-9pm, with a special 5:30pm early admission - for an inside look at outsider art.

Chairs for the Benefit Preview, a lively and festive affair, are Michael Donovan and Nancye Green, Richard and Amy Rubenstein, and Selig and Angela Sacks. Vice Chairs are Audrey Heckler and Thomas Isenberg, and the Americus Chairs are Deborah and Charles Burgess and Andrew Edlin.

The 2002 Outsider Art Fair will raffle off several works of outsider art, which have been donated by participating galleries. Starting on the night of the Benefit Preview, raffle tickets can be purchased at the membership booth set up at the fair. The drawing will take place on Sunday, January 27, the final day of the fair.

Benefit tickets are $500 per person for Benefactor, $200 for Supporter, and $100 for the Americus group, specially priced for those 40 years and younger. Tickets include early admission (5:30) to the Benefit Preview, re-admission to the Fair, and a copy of the catalog. Benefactors also receive a complimentary ticket to Uncommon Artists X: A Series of Cameo Talks. Tickets for general admission at 6:30 are $75 per person and include one re-admission to the show. Proceeds from this event will help support Museum exhibitions and educational programs. General daily admission for the Outsider Art Fair is $15.

Works of renowned outsider artist Henry Darger will be highlighted at the Outsider Art Fair. Darger (1892-1973) was a reclusive, religious man who created an imaginary world for his private satisfaction. While Darger worked in isolation and kept his projects private, he was in no way cut off from the communal experience. His collection, comprised of extensive writings, sketches and scroll-like paintings, illustrates that he was engaged in the life of his church and was aware of and interested in current events. This collection also reveals how Darger, engaged in a creative process, made deliberate aesthetic decisions, and shows that this self-taught artist was clearly rooted in the American experience. The American Folk Art Museum currently has an exhibit of Darger’s work on view through June 2002.

The highly informative Uncommon Artists X: A Series of Cameo Talks will be offered by the American Folk Art Museum’s Contemporary Center on Saturday morning, January 26, 2002 at New York University’s Barney Building. This provocative educational program will feature cameo talks by experts in the field who will address artistic issues and introduce new scholarship, as well as present short films and slide presentations. It also underscores The Contemporary Center’s involvement with the expanding field of contemporary self-taught art and artists. Tickets are $30 for Museum members and $35 for non-members. Space is limited; for reservations or further information please call Lee Kogan at 212/977-7170 ext. 333.

For ticket information and reservations, please contact Katie Hush, Special Events Coordinator at 212/977-7170 ext. 308 or specialevents@folkartmuseum.org. The Outsider Art Fair hours are as follows: Friday, noon-8PM; Saturday, 11AM-7PM; Sunday, 11AM-6PM.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of New York

Other Important Exhibitions in New York