Outsider Art and Outsider Artists are terms that refer to works of art created by artistes that are outside of the mainstream art world or art institutions. In many cases, these artists do not have formal art training. They, in many cases, are people with mental issues and/or physical challenges. The images usually illustrate elaborate fantasy worlds, extreme mental states, and unconventional ideas. There is a large population of art collectors that look to acquire Outsider Art.
Frida Kahlo is not considered an Outsider Artist. Yet, her paintings describe her political beliefs, physical battles, and love relationships. She executes her paintings in a naïve style.
A self-declared Outsider Artist who utilizes trash to make his art is Morro Bay’s Phillip Carey. A 70 year art-veteran, he began his creative passion in kindergarten but grew up wanting to be the world’s greatest opera singer. When he tired of this youthful dream, he enrolled at Long Beach State University in its graphic design department.
Because of the praise from his exhibit design class professor, Phillip decided that creating mini environments was his calling. He graduated with dual major degrees in exhibit design and graphic design. This higher education experience allowed Carey to learn how to use and manipulate countless materials that he would put and work together to form self-contained durable mini environments. During his career as an installation artist he worked for science & industry museums, state parks, and historical societies throughout the United States. He completed more than 2500 environmental design projects.
Enjoying retirement was short lived when Phil was diagnosed with kidney failure with his “life” dependent on dialysis three times a week, three hours per visit. He passed the time making “postal” art. Using one clipboard, non-fading ballpoint black ink pens, archival prima colored pencils, and blank white envelopes, he completed more than 450 different images. In addition, he saved his bandages, cotton swabs, and numerous other items from his medical procedure.
Art in My Veins, a piece he exhibited in 2015 at The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, was his life sized self portrait. He incorporated his medical trash into the piece to personalize it. It depicts his pain and suffering, literally.
Trashing my Art, Arting my Trash is the title for Phillip’s current project. It will be a large multi layer installation that will incorporate trash he collected on his US cross-country road trip. Using stuff that others might throw away to make art may sound uninteresting or contrived. But, under the fingers of this great exhibit design master, “stuff “ is manipulated to become a masterpiece. In its construction, Phil is using pieces of corrugated packaging, brochures, menus, chocolate wrappers, newspapers, road signs, tires, maps, and so much more. The completed project, which I would guess at completion to be 15 feet long by 8 feet high, will be installed at Kellogg Community College’s DeVries Gallery, Battle Creek, Michigan (September 22 through October 27, 2016).
Philip Carey labels himself as an Outsider Artist, and his works Outsider Art. I disagree. To me, he’s simply a master artist without a category. He processes his world, his way. I am lucky that he let me in his front door.
See the art of Phillip Carey on his website www.strageartofphilipcarey.com.
