June 26 2020 #170
My Ancestor’s Blood Cry from the Earth:
Mary Frances Whitfield
The Phyllis Stigliano gallery hosts diverse works of art including folk art, photography and abstract pieces. One featured artist is the self-taught Mary Frances Whitfield, born 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama. She is known for her affecting portrayals of the history of her African-American ancestors’ heritage during the slavery epoch.
My Ancestor’s Blood Cry from the Earth, Whitfield, ca. 1995, Watercolor on canvas board, 12" x 16"
See more of Whitfield's work in Stigliano's online gallery and explore other featured artists and exhibits.
Pride Month feature: Stephen Wright
Stephen Wright has been working as an artist and designer for over 30 years, starting out in textiles but then branching out into sculptures, paintings, memory boards and his breathtaking House of Dreams.
"After seeing a series of programmes on television in 1998 about outsider art, I began working on a life project the ‘house of dreams museum’ within my home and garden in east Dulwich. Every surface inside and outside has been covered with found objects, i.e. false teeth, old disabled dolls, bottle tops and wigs, together with my hand-written memory boards which recall important events in my life."
'Stephen Wright', short documentary by majestic disorder (2013). Music By Steven Bulinski
Wright and his partner Donald Jones began with a simple mosaic floor in the backyard. Jones sadly passed away a few years later from the rare disorder Evans syndrome. Wright continued to transform the whole property into a magical realm filled with art through which he channeled his emotions; it was not until 2011 that he opened the House of Dreams to visits from the public.
Detail of the mosaic wall in the porch of the House of Dreams. Photo: stephenwrightartist.com
Wright and his partner Michael usually visit Paris throughout the year where he collects objects for the museum from the junk markets, but this year they have stayed put in London due to COVID-19.
The museum is currently closed due to the pandemic, but Wright continues his constant work on the house, completing things, beginning new things, and he plans to open it to the public once more on July 25th. You can book a visitation slot on his website.
Lady with snake hand, Wright, n.d. Fabric, mixed media, stitch
Stephen Wright was featured in Raw Vision #86.
abcd Art Brut: New website
abcd Art Brut have launched a sleek new website to be the home of all things related to Bruno Decharme's collection.
Explore art brut news, learn about current and upcoming exhibitions and view short films, like the animated art brut history created by Vincent Chaz.
'ART BRUT / une histoire animée' by Vincent Chaz
Learn about the abcd team and the collection's history. The fully realised website will be in French and English (the English version is currently under construction).
ALAIN LACOSTE at the Musée de La Création Franche
The Musée de La Création Franche, Bègles, France, will be reopening and hosting a retrospective exhibition from June 26 until September 6, 2020.
The exhibition, Alain Lacoste: bricoleur de poésie, will feature almost 300 works from the renowned artist. Born in 1935 in Laval and now living in Mayenne, Lacoste paints and draws on everything he finds: paper, cardboard, newspapers, old photos – the list goes on.
Lacoste in his studio. Photo courtesy of Musée de La Création Franche
Watch a short trailer for the exhibition here.
Obituary: DAVOOD KOOCHAKI
We here at Raw Vision mourn the loss of the artist Davood Koochaki, who died in Tehran on June 20, 2020, at the age of 81. Born in 1939 in northern Iran, as a teenager, Koochaki left his farming family and moved to Tehran. He began drawing when he was around 40 and, after retiring from his work as an automobile mechanic, focused full-time on his art.
Photo courtesy of Morteza Zaheedi, Tehran, Iran
His mysterious pencil-on-paper drawings of oddly shaped half-human and half-animal creatures delighted audiences and attracted collectors in Europe and the United States. They constitute one of the most original bodies of work in the art brut field today. Koochaki is survived by his wife, five children, and his extended family.
Read Edward M. Gómez's obituary of Koochaki, which will be published on Raw Vision's website this coming weekend.
See more of Davood Koochaki's work on the Cavin-Morris Gallery website.
Raw Vision 105 Out Now!
All back issues are currently half price for a limited time only; visit our online shop to learn more.
For orders of 10+ issues please email info@rawvision.com for a reduced postage cost.
This new downloadable PDF version of the Environments section of the renowned Outsider Art Sourcebook, featuring key texts, timeline and bibliography on Outsider Art as well as listings for galleries, studios, websites & organizations. It is available to purchase now for $10 | £7 | €10