FolkArtwork and Friends

Susan Aberth, the Edith C. Blum Professor of Art History at Bard College, joins me on this month's FolkArtwork and Friends podcast to discuss spiritual artwork, tarot cards, ghosts, women surrealists, and the exhibit she recently curated at Andrew Edlin Gallery in New York City titled “Conduits of the Unseen: Women Artists Imagine Other Worlds”, open now until October 31st.

We talk about the incredible artwork of Paulina Peavy, who would create artwork with the help of an extraterrestrial named Lacamo, the differences between the reception of the artwork of Hilma af Klint and the spiritual artists that followed her, as well as the creative hub and retreat for artists in Mexico following World War II.

If you have the chance, go see Susan’s show, “Conduits of the Unseen: Women Artists Imagine Other Worlds.”

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Earlier this summer I spoke with some of the most joyful and creative artists around -- Dean Millien joined me from New York City in his aluminum filled studio to talk about losing his toys as a kid and creating new toys out of aluminium, the recent success and joy he has recieved from his sculptures, as well as the artist talks and demonstrations he does inspiring people of all ages and abilitiles.

Then, Lee Kennedy of VaultArt Studio, a progressive art studio in Pittsburgh, joined me to talk about his interests and loves, and why he puts them into his artworks. Plus, we discuss his favorite music, his photographic memory, and "Let's Go Pens!"

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I'm back at school! And there's no better way to kick that off than catching up with one of my favorite former students, Dismas Hill. We chatted about school during a pandemic, growing pains in high school and becoming more mature, prison art, as well as some of our favorite action films of all time, like "Hobo With a Shotgun".

Be sure to come see FolkArtwork Collective in real life at Mainframe Studios on Friday, September 4th for "First Friday" from 5pm-7pm.

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Iranian self-taught artist Affsoongar joins in conversation from Tehran, Iran, to talk about outsider art inspiring her to make art after dropping out of architectural school, growing up in Iran, not seeing strong female heroes, making art during war, and the bittersweet emotions of having artwork at the Outsider Art Fair but not being able to enjoy it due to living in a digital blackout.

Support Affsoongar by following her on Instagram @affs00ngar, buying digital prints of her work, and spreading her story far and wide. 

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In the twelfth episode of the FolkArtwork and Friends podcast, I talk to my good friend and art environment extraordinaire, "Narrow" Larry Harris. I can't remember the first time I met Larry, but I've been going to his website, narrowlarry.com, for years as he has been documenting, scouring maps and encyclopedias, and more to find any and every art environment possible in the United States.

We talk about how his work as an architect influenced his love for these self-taught environments, including his visits to The Orange Show and Watts Towers, which led him to build a replica of the towers, now housed in the collection of the Kohler Museum. 

Visit www.narrowlarry.com to find an art environment near you.

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In the eleventh episode of the FolkArtwork and Friends podcast, I am extremely thrilled to be joined by the one and only Ricky Boscarino of Luna Parc. I met Ricky a few months ago, and was blown away by his generosity to share the story of his one-of-a-kind art environment, and walk me through it for a video tour (check out YouTube!) on a bright and beautiful New Jersey day. 

Plus, we talk about the moment he knew this home would be his forever home, his days at NYU film school, traveling across the world, the importance of keeping his home a museum for people to visit forever and ever, and he shows me his final resting place where he plans to be buried... after he turns 106.

Follow Ricky on Instagram at @rickyoflunaparc and donate to the project or book a tour at www.lunaparc.com!

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Purchase Jo's book "Architectural Fantasies: Artist-Built Environments" from Tra Publishing here: www.trapublishing.com/products/architectural-fantasies

Use promo code: AF15 for 15% off!

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In the tenth episode of the FolkArtwork and Friends podcast, I kick off art-environment summer with the one and only, Jo Farb Hernández, Director Emerita of SPACES (Saving and Preserving Arts and Cultural Environments) and Professor Emerita at San José State University. Joining me from her home in Spain, we talk about all the incredible work she has done in that country to find and document almost one hundred art environments through the years.

Plus, we talk about her first art environment visited, the work she's done with Salvation Mountain, and the importance of Watts Towers, stories of visiting the artists who make these one-of-a-kind environments, as well as the weirdest thing she can remember seeing at an art environment, and what we can do to continue to document and advocate for these spaces.

Check out spacesarchives.org or narrowlarry.com to find an art environment near you!

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In the second part of the ninth episode of FolkArtwork and Friends, I am pleased to be joined by self-taught artist Bill Miller, whose linoleum works of art are on display in the latest exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum, "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists."

Bill joins me to talk about his search for a very large studio, due to his very large piles of linoleum, which he uses in his artworks. We talked about his upbringing in Pittsburgh’s Industrial Arts Co-op, making art out of recycled materials, showing his work at the Outsider Art Fair, and the story behind creating two album covers for the late Frank Zappa. Then, we dine out on some of our favorite music to listen to while making art, I brag about being named the teacher with the best music at my school, and why Paul McCartney keeps texting us. 

Plus, Bill Miller wants your linoleum! Bill's artwork is made entirely of linoleum, and he has a giant warehouse to store it. So if you have some you want to donate, he'll take it off your hands! Go to www.billmillerart.com or www.billmillerwantsyourlinoleum.com and get in touch with Bill so he can take your linoleum off your hands and use it in a piece of art. Or follow Bill on Instagram at @billmillerart.

Learn more about "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists" at www.folkartmuseum.org and follow the American Folk Art Museum on Instagram at @afamuseum. If you're in New York City, visit the American Folk Art Museum open Wednesday–Sunday: 11:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. -- admission is always free.

Follow @folkartwork on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more

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Visit folkartwork.art to shop self-taught art by emerging contemporary artists

In the ninth episode of FolkArtwork and Friends, I am honored to be joined by Valérie Rousseau, the Curatorial Chair and Senior Curator of 20th-Century & Contemporary Art at the American Folk Art Museum. Valérie joins me to talk about what led her to a career in curating self-taught artwork, which included growing up with two grandfathers who were both renowned in Canada, one for their work as an ethnobotanist and the other a wood carver. We talk about how the organization and the classification of art and nature as a kid led to curating, the works of art she remembers as a kid that will always stay with her, and then a discussion about the latest exhibit she co-curated with Suzie Oppenheimer at the American Folk Art Museum, "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists," on view now until September 13th. Plus, I didn't jinx the Knicks!

Learn more about "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists" at www.folkartmuseum.org and follow the American Folk Art Museum on Instagram at @afamuseum. If you're in New York City, visit the American Folk Art Museum open Wednesday–Sunday: 11:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. -- admission is always free.

Follow @folkartwork on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more

Subscribe to the "This Week in Outsider Art" Newsletter on Substack

Visit folkartwork.art to shop self-taught art by emerging contemporary artists

In the eighth episode of FolkArtwork and Friends, I am pleased to catch up with my good friend Ryan Ward of The Ruffed Grouse Gallery. Ever since I was first mistaken for Ryan at the Outsider Art Fair in 2024, we hit it off, and he's been a great mentor and friend as he helps me navigate this world of outsider art. I talk to Ryan about his relationship with art growing up as a kid in rural Pennsylvania, spending tons of time outside, discovering artwork by Purvis Young and Jimmy Lee Sudduth that catapulted him into the world of self-taught and outsider art, as well as purchasing his first work while in grad school. Plus, we talk about our time at the Outsider Art Fair, the artist Little Walt Dog, discovering a piece of art created by Jerry Saltz, and the future of the outsider art world.

Then, in celebration of May Day, a look at the life of self-taught artist Ralph Fasanella, whose large, detailed works depicted urban working life and critiqued post-World War II America.

Follow Ryan Ward and The Ruffed Grouse Gallery on Instagram at @ruffed_grouse_gallery, and check out their latest gallery in Narrowsburg, New York, titled "Out Of Hand And Foot: Tanner Simon | Charles Farless" on display until June 14th.

Follow @folkartwork on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more

Subscribe to the "This Week in Outsider Art" Newsletter on Substack

Visit folkartwork.art to shop self-taught art by emerging contemporary artists

If you are in the Des Moines area, come to the Mainframe Studios "First Friday" event on May 1st from 5pm-8pm to see me hanging out with Ashley Mary in our studio and showcasing some of the artwork from the Outsider Art Fair, including works by Kay Le Seelleur Ara, Reneesa Mccoy, Jackie Bradshaw, Pam Puck, and more!