Crazy People & Outside Artists

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 11:55 AM

The last week or so, I have been indulging in a "crazy people" festival.

First, I watched "Grizzly Man," about the crazed and delusional Timothy Treadwell who was eaten by a grizzly bear.
http://www.grizzlymanmovie.com/grizzly.html

Then I watched "Cinemania," the movie about the five -- Jack, Bill, Eric, Harvey and Roberta -- NYC-based film nuts who go to multiple movies every day at MoMA, BAM, and other art theaters in the city.
http://www.cinemaniamovie.com/

Yesterday, I was at the American Folk Art Museum to see its "obsessive drawing" exhibit:
http://www.folkartmuseum.org/default.asp?id=1266

I also picked up a book on so called "outsider" art:
http://outsider.art.org/index.htm

I really loved it all. I think I like art about or created by delusional, obsessive the neurotic, or "outsiders" because I am confident of their honesty and I sense that they do what they have to do because the "HAVE TO DO IT."

It makes me want to listen seriously to what they have to say.

Would be interested in other thoughts or experiences on this -- books, films, music, art work, etc.

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 12:04 PM

I just remembered one book in the "crazy people -- outside artist" genre was Joe Gould's Secret. Joseph Mitchell did a fantastic portrait of him, and I would highly recommended it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037...lance&n=283155

Surfer · February-22nd-2006, 12:08 PM

LOL, you need to see Junebug. Frank Hoyt Taylor does a great "outsider artist".

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 12:14 PM

I also remembered this:

The Professor and the Madman:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006...lance&n=283155

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

LOL, you need to see Junebug. Frank Hoyt Taylor does a great "outsider artist".

Thanks! Will do!

Did you see American Splendor? It's about Harvey Pekar.
http://www.americansplendormovie.com/main.html

Surfer · February-22nd-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

Thanks! Will do!

Did you see American Splendor? It's about Harvey Pekar.
http://www.americansplendormovie.com/main.html

I have seen it. Great movie. I'm not sure I would call him outsider, well maybe at first he was.

Jon Abbey · February-22nd-2006, 12:21 PM

this is supposed to be one of the greatest museums in the world, along similar lines:

http://www.artbrut.ch/

Doc Martin · February-22nd-2006, 12:21 PM

Root Doctor · February-22nd-2006, 12:22 PM

Root Doctor · February-22nd-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

I didn't know that Debi Mazur and Bukowski used to toss them back together.

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 12:25 PM

Who's that, Doc, Charles Bukowski?

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 12:28 PM

I found this Diane Arbus picture of Scott Dolan

Surfer · February-22nd-2006, 12:30 PM

LOL at that picture, though I dont know if i'd call Bukowski an "outside artist" either.

I would definitely call James Hampton's piece (which is one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen) a classic of outsider art.

Full story here

blawless · February-22nd-2006, 12:38 PM

Hey, do "thrift store artists" count?

Lots of sites and books on this sort of work, e.g.: http://www.thriftstoreart.com

Or are you just looking for the nutjobs who can't stop babbling about the holy spirit and shit? (e.g., www.finster.com)

I saw the movie Word Wars the other day, and it features a cavalcade of lovable outsiders who aren't interested in anything not directly related to Scrabble.

Surfer · February-22nd-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blawless

www.finster.com)

LOL, nearest camping is at Sloppy Floyd State Park.

John P. Cooper · February-22nd-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

The last week or so, I have been indulging in a "crazy people" festival.

Wow. I admire you. How do you manage to budget your time so well? I can't do it.

Doc Martin · February-22nd-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

Who's that, Doc, Charles Bukowski?

That reminds me

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

Wow. I admire you. How do you manage to budget your time so well? I can't do it.

Actually, it started out as a Werner Herzog (who directed Grizzly Man) festival, but since I couldn't manage it well enough I decided to make it a "crazy person" festival.

You can do it. Just do a bunch of stuff and find a "theme" to what you do.

But I must admit, it's easier to do if you are crazy yourself.

bluenoter · February-22nd-2006, 01:40 PM

American Visionary Art Museum

Pete has been there. I still haven't.

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 01:45 PM

here is a piece on Daniel Johnston that appeared a few days ago in the NYTs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/ar...gewanted=print

The article mentions Henry Darger
http://www.saraayers.com/darger.htm

Raw Vision magazine
http://www.rawvision.com/

bluenoter · February-22nd-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

I would definitely call James Hampton's piece (which is one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen) a classic of outsider art.
. . .

Full story here

Yes indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

I just remembered one book in the "crazy people -- outside artist" genre was Joe Gould's Secret. Joseph Mitchell did a fantastic portrait of him, and I would highly recommended it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037...lance&n=283155

I read a very old two-part New Yorker piece of Mitchell's (also called "Joe Gould's Secret") that preceded the book, and I still remember it.

rollhead · February-22nd-2006, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenoter

I read a very old two-part New Yorker piece of Mitchell's (also called "Joe Gould's Secret") that preceded the book, and I still remember it.

A movie was made out of it a few years ago. I would like to see it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172632/

Hot Ptah · February-22nd-2006, 06:03 PM

interestingideas.com has a lot of material and many links, on outsider art.

steve(thelil) · February-22nd-2006, 06:06 PM

Do some people's posts here count as outsider art?

Ron Thorne · February-22nd-2006, 09:04 PM

Post #24 was a relief. I was anticipating a link to the National Museum of Obsessive Gerbalists or sumpin'.

The closest I've ever been to anything quite like this was a very cool show my roommate, Alex, and I hung in our college gallery . . . an American Folk Art collection, mostly signage, some of it nearly 100 years old. Very hip stuff.

AntManBee · February-23rd-2006, 07:44 AM

Speaking of Herzog, have you seen his love/hate documentary on Klaus Kinski, "My Best Fiend" - two creative crazies in one go?

You might want to try the Henry Boxer's wevsite gallery of outsider art too:
http://www.outsiderart.co.uk

steve(thelil) · February-23rd-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Post #24 was a relief. I was anticipating a link to the National Museum of Obsessive Gerbalists or sumpin'.

Don't be silly. There's no National Museum of Obsessive Gerbalists. On the other hand, I am a fan of the Turd Museum - they've got some great shit there.

Pete C · February-23rd-2006, 08:19 PM

I've been to the museums in Lausanne & Baltimore. I think I actually enjoyed the one in Baltimore a bit more.

Rob C · February-23rd-2006, 09:09 PM

Weird coincidence mentioning a "Herzog festival": I just got home from Borders with the Herzog/Kinski DVD boxset, and Burden of Dreams, Les Blank's doc about the making of Fitzcarraldo. I had coupons.

(Uh, and I've also got Grizzly Man on order from Amazon.... Hmm, I wonder if I qualify as an entrant in the crazy people festival.)