When I heard about the new exhibit at the Hunter Art Museum, I flipped out a bit. It's the most Art in the Margins thing ever. Lucky for us, Nandini Makrandi, chief curator at the museum, was kind enough to call in to discuss this exhibit: More Than Folk: Celebrating Self-Taught Artists.
Not only did these artists not go to school for art, most did not complete much traditional schooling. Many grew up in poverty and had little access to cultural empowerment or educational advancement. Yet, using materials ranging from tree stumps and mud to denim and paint, these artists created emotionally moving works that draw us into their inner lives and daily experiences. The artworks selected from the Hunter’s collection are intensely expressive and at times spiritual. More Than Folk celebrates the passion, intuition, and creativity that drove these self-taught artists to paint and sculpt.