Season Greetings and thanks so much

I wish all of you all the best and a safe and prosperous 2010.

My sincere gratitude

My sincere gratitude to all involved in the Outsiders Festival - Adelaide 2009

Apologies if I forget someone. My gratitude is still the same.

Miron Abramovici

Betty Anderson

The Crew from Australian Art Forum

Cameron Bache and the Crew form CAN SA

Mike Barr

Alex Bickford

Brad Buchel and the Crew form Art Forum Australia

Nicolle Cheung

Joanne Chua

N'Tarleeah Cleaver

Paul Collier and the Crew from Arts Access SA

Julie Corfe and the Crew

Daniel

Ella Dent

Renee Doveal

Matthew Dowling

Glenn Drewitt

Bert Eitel

The Friendly Street Poets

Emma Fry and the Crew from The Parks

Space G

Dianne Gall

Grant Gittus

Jessica Gray

Mike Greenwood

Peter Grigoriadis and Muscular Teeth

Helene Henderson

Paul Hoban

Noel Hobbs

Mel Kelly and Recyclopath

Ava Leitner

Tanara Lindsay

Sarah McCarthy and her Crew

Michelle Mitolo and the Crew form the West Torrens Auditorium

Dana Nance

Graham Nance

Renate Nisi and the Crew form Club 68

Steve Oatway

Naomi O'Connor

Wendy Olsen

Beth Ory

Rose Parker

Gillian Pead

Francis Phelan

Peter Jungle Phillips

George Pivas

Angela Polglaze

Max Powers

Mike Retter

Mark Roberts

Brandon Ross and Lord Masque

Olga Sankey

Julie Stephens

Jim Thalassoudis

Elva Turner-Lindsay

Clifford Williams

Kerry Williams

Kimberly Williams

Leon Woods

Kirk Wright

SAFM, Raw Vision, Redbubble, Channel 31 Adelaide, The Messenger Newspapers, Adelaide Now, Triple M Adelaide, News.com.au, NAVA, The Tutti ensemble, Google, The ABC, visualarts.com.au, Downunderhub.com

and all my family and friends for their unbelievable patience, love and support.

Echoes to the Outsiders Festival

One or two extremely versatile. Good to see a mixed selection. Thank you.

Great local talent - enjoyed the diverse works on show. Good luck with this idea and project.

Some interesting and inventive work.

Hi Stefan - quite a show! It was so good to see so much energy of creativity.

Some extraordinary works!

Ella Dent - some of the finest art which I had ever seen.

Absolutely wonderful art. Congratulations everyone!

Such thought and depth - absolutely beautiful.

I love Julie Stephen's bird paintings and witty titles.

Some very original works.

Help me God I'm drowning - so lovely - keep ya head up.

The art standard is hi.

Pivas - J. Stephens, what a future, WOW. Thank you for cheering up an old man.

Stefan, my sincere gratitude back, you have helped so many humble souls to display and enjoy each others art in a way that was not possible before. You did it solely from the goodness of your heart. That is why the Outsiders Festival in Adelaide was not only a success, but also a way for many to believe in their own art as relevant parts of their own creativity, for you shone that light by believing in their talents and befriending then as your peers. This is the true definition of community. I am so humbled and grateful to be part of this special group of individuals. Together, silently and non-physically we are evolving and we are quietly making a difference . With much love and thanks.

Leon Woods

Although I could not go to Stefan's Festival, I would just like to congratulate him on the magnificent job he has done. I would like to thank him very much for letting me take part in his festival and from what I hear it was a outstanding success. Proved all his critics wrong , and I will certainly be looking forward to next year. Thank you Stefan.

Julie Stephens

Well it was a really cool event Stefan so thank you!

Mike Retter

And the winner is...

The People's choice award at the first Outsiders Festival in aAdelaide is

Frog Watch

by Noel Hobbs from Club 68

Please join me in congratulating Noel Hobbs.

The Opening at the West Torrens Auditorium

The Outsiders Festival – Adelaide 1-30 November 2009

Opening dates and venues:The West Torrens Auditorium
1 Brooker Terrace, Hilton
1 November 2009 - 1:00 - 3.00 PM
Entry: gold coin donation

To be open by
Olga Sankey, Senior Lecturer in Visual Arts at the University of South Australia

Featuring:
More than 40 artists and more than 200 works from the US, Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia
Performing:
The Friendly Street Poets
Dana Nance
Peter Grigoriadis
Mel Kelly
Space G

The Elbow Gallery - The Parks Community Centre
2-46 Cowan St, Angle Park

5 November 2009 - 10:00-11:00 am.
Entry: gold coin donation Open studios during the festival:Steve Langdon Studio
215 Sturt St, Adelaide, 5000
Opening hours: 11- 15:30
Ph: 8211 8070

Peter "Jungle" Phillips Studio
558 Marion Road, South Plympton
Opening hours: 11- 17:00
Ph: 8293 5146

Julie Corfe
45 Garrod Crescent, Stirling
By appointment only
Ph: 8370 9056
Stefan Maguran Rumpus Room Gallery
316 Anzac Highway, Plympton
By appointment only
Ph: 8297 5760
http://www.outsidersfestival.blogspot.com/

Dana Nance

Dana Nance was born in Romania in 1987 and lived in an orphanage until she came to Australia in 1995 with her adoptive parents when she was 7 ½ years of age. Even before she left Romania, when she was eventually able to hold a pen, she drew little men. She has continued to do this, covering pages of paper, inflated balloons or any other materials available.
Dana has won a number of prizes for her art work and has had a number of commissions both here and interstate. Last month, she was a joint winner of the open section of the A-Frame Exhibition (conducted by Arts Access). She has been a prize winner every year since she has been enterring this competition fur years ago. She was one of four winners in an International Competition four years ago. She had a successful exhibition of her work in 2005 at the Artistic Licence Gallery.
Dana’s artistic skills were fostered and encouraged both at school and in private lessons with Krista Hernach. Since leaving school, she has continued to study with Krista.
She has congenitally short arms with two functioning digits on her right hand and one semi-functioning digit on the left hand. These disabilities present her with some challenges in life, which she has overcome remarkably.
She is also musical and plays the panpipe and has had numerous engagements playing at elderly citizen’s homes, concerts and weddings etc.

Joanne Chua

Adelaide based Joanne Chua was introduced to finger painting in February 2008.
As a person who is sight challenged Joanne says she has come to view the world with her “third eye” Her art and creativity reflect a strong passion to embrace life with no boundaries.

Outsiders and the disabled people

WARNING!
Before you even think of replying, I will make it clear that I am using the word disabled in the sense that Paul Collier was using it not so long ago.

“Disabled” means restricted by society, government and the so-called ”lack of funding” (used so often to justify inefficiency, greed, laziness and mismanagement).

I’ve been told recently that disabled people resent to be called Outsiders because of the negative connotation of the term.

I firmly believe that not enough effort has been put into communicating the fact that this is a completely wrong interpretation of the term first used by Cardinal to describe people who create without being constraint by rules, red tape, conventions, lack of wheel-chair access, etc.

It is largely my fault, I admit, as I did not imagine that by choosing this term (which, by the way, is being widely used by “insiders” – the main reason why I chose it), it will cause resistance from people who should, in fact, be proud to be called outsiders.

Outsider means freedom – freedom from having to produce the same landscape, just to please your buyers. Outsider means the freedom to express your feelings, emotions, thoughts, passions, which is what art is all about.
Outsider means being a true artist – but sadly the term artist is relatively compromised – so I will stick to the term Outsider.

Warriapendi Outsiders

Kimberley Williams (Kimmy-G)

Year 12 student at Warriappendi High School

NAIDOC Youth Award winner 2009

Traineeship with West Torrens City Council

Proud of her Ramindjeri/Ngarrindjeri culture

Interested in justice, peace, music and creative expression

Kerry Williams (Kerian) Year 11 student at Warriappendi High School

Passionate about animals, friends, music and books
Proud of her Ramindjeri/Ngarrindjeri culture

Student of the Year 2008

Kirk Wright (Rhymz)

Year 11 student Warriappendi High

Creates beats and raps in Garageband

Interested in hip hop and its use as outlet for creative expression

Currently working with Monsta G in lyrics writing sessions

Tanara Lindsay (Tanara)

Year Nine student at Warriappendi High School

Proud Ngarrindjeri person

Interested in tattoos, music, friends and art

Rose Parker (Kiarose)

Year 11 student at Warriappend High School

Proud Bundjalung person from NSW

Loves animals, art, music and friends

N'Tarleeah (Nunganat)

Year 10 student at Warriappendi High School

Proud Boandik person

Loves art- is experimental in approach and concept and draws on inspiration from the realm of fantasy and imagination.

Two weeks to go - here is a snapshot

Opening dates and venues:

The West Torrens Auditorium

1 Brooker Terrace, Hilton

1 November 2009 - 1:00 - 3.00 PM

The Elbow Gallery - The Parks Community Centre

2-46 Cowan St, Angle Park

5 November 2009 - 10:00-11:00 am.

Entry: gold coin donation
Contact:Stefan Maguran (+618) 8297 5760

Open studios during the festival:

Steve Langdon Studio

215 Sturt St, Adelaide, 5000

Opening hours: 11- 15:30

Ph: 8211 8070

Peter "Jungle" Phillips Studio

558 Marion Road, South Plympton

Opening hours: 11- 17:00

Ph: 8293 5146

Julie Corfe

45 Garrod Crescent, Stirling

By appointment only

Ph: 8370 9056

Stefan Maguran Rumpus Room Gallery

316 Anzac Highway, Plympton

By appointment only

Ph: 8297 5760

Outsiders Festival T-shirts:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/stefanmaguran/t-shirts/3505018-1-outsiders-festival-adelaide-2009

Cards and prints:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/stefanmaguran/art/3494418-2-outsiders-festival-adelaide-2009

Other merchandise:

http://www.cafepress.com.au/Maguran

Leon Woods

Flowering hearts

Leon Woods is an inspirational artist from Adelaide. His journey into the heart of sacred geometry – depicting the macro natural world and its spiritual energy – has been inspired by a great passion for graphic design and image reproduction. Parallel with this is his devotion to healing the planet by inspiring people to look at its beauty and their own inner world.

“We are a microcosm of the planet itself – and so having an opportunity to contemplate its fundamental geometric shapes,its building blocks, is very exciting to me,” he says.

“My intention is to create art images that help uplift the human spirt in celebration of the natural world. The images are created from small natural living objects that surround me in my garden and enviorment. Mother nature is the best and most talated artist. I believe that by placing these natural forms in our built environs, a harmonious and empowering effect can be achieved within businesses, homes, families and relationships. I invite people to explore their possibilities.”

More of Leon's work here:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/jolee

Outsiders Festival venues update

Open studios during the Outsiders Festival - Adelaide 1-30 November 2009

Steve Langdon Studio
215 Sturt St, Adelaide, 5000
Opening hours: 11- 15:30
Ph: 8211 8070

Peter "Jungle" Phillips Studio
558 Marion Road, South Plympton
Opening hours: 11- 17:00
Ph: 8293 5146

Stefan Maguran Rumpus Room Gallery
316 Anzac Highway, Plympton
By appointment only
Ph: 8297 5760

Matthew Dowling - From Landcare Officer to Photographic Artist

I first became interested in taking landscape photographs in 1990 when I was employed as a Landcare Officer based at Port Augusta. During the three years I worked for the Department of Agriculture, I travelled huge distances attending landcare meetings from the Gawler Ranges west of Port Augusta, to Copper Hills Station near Marla and even at Moomba in the middle of the Strzelecki Desert.

It was during those long trips by car or plane that I fell in love with the desert landscape of outback South Australia and the almost overwhelming beauty of the Flinders Ranges. Although I’d visited these regions many times before, it almost felt like I’d rediscovered this vast expanse of SA by experiencing the full range of seasonal changes that have created this complex ancient landscape.

Gradually I expanded my range of subject matter and to my delight I discovered the ‘moody’ wetlands of the Limestone Coast/South East region; the Adelaide Botanic Gardens; Fleurieu Peninsula’s exquisite coastal landscapes; grand 19th Century buildings; the mining history and secluded beaches of Yorke Peninsula; the fabulous isolation of Kangaroo Island and most rewarding of all - capturing people ‘doing their own thing’ whilst completely oblivious of the camera.

Many people ask me how I became a photographer? No, I am not an industry trained photographer. I believe that my ability to compose a good photograph developed during my Parks & Wildlife Management Degree and the subsequent large number of field based environmental projects that I was associated with over a 15 year period. When composing a photograph I attempt to have as many contrasting colours and patterns in the camera’s view finder as possible.

Incorporating Human Form into the Natural Landscape

Whilst working at the High St Gallery in Willunga during 2005, visitors from Adelaide often remarked to me how sensual the Sellicks Hill Ranges were. These ranges form a prominent backdrop to the township of Willunga. Gradually it dawned on me that I should create a photographic art portfolio which reflects the sensuous nature of the Fleurieu Peninsula by incorporating the human form into my landscape images.

The two best images that have best captured the synergistic relationship between the human form and natural landscapes are: ‘Lettuce Lady, Maslin Cliffs and ‘Silk Moth, Sellicks Hill’.

Embracing New Technology

Having intensively used the fabulous program Photoshop for 12 months or so, during 2005 quite by chance I discovered that it was possible to easily reverse the colours of an image, such that a blue sky become ochre and ochre rocks are converted into various shades of blue.

At its best this reversal of colour can transform an image into what is best described as ‘colour x-ray’. The attractive ochre rocks in the photo ‘Radio Active Rocks, Victor Harbor’ appear to be almost radio-active in the colour reversal image, hence the title. Another image that has been magically transformed via Photoshop is ‘Chocolate Sea, Port Willunga’.

Why is My Business Called Desert Lime?

This shrub or small tree is Australia’s only true citrus species that grows in many parts of inland Australia. The closest stand of Desert Lime to Adelaide is a small grove adjacent to Mambray Creek National Park in the foothills of the southern Flinders Ranges. I choose this name from a book on bush tucker to reflect my love for the Australian continent.

Photographic Art: My Secret Garden

Somewhere within all of us there is a secret garden. This is a place only truly known to yourself in whom we seek refuge when times are tough - feel the need to contemplate the universe or simply do something that gives us joy. We all have emotional landscapes inside us, secret rooms where feelings and impressions blossom into our secret garden.

Some people talk about it, others write poems or express their inner feelings on canvas. Sitting in your favourite chair contemplating the joy of life or simply take a walk amongst nature allows many of us to nurture our own secret garden. For me, my secret garden is the joy I feel when I’m amongst nature capturing those exquisite moments or even ‘sneaking up on’ members of the human species when they are blissfully unaware of the camera whilst doing their own thing.

Website Images/Biography

www.artistshub.com/feature.htm
www.artroom.com.au (click on Artists in menu)

Joint Exhibitions

‘The Fleurieu Experience’ with Leigh Marshall, Shingleback Winery, McLaren Vale, Oct 2006
‘Corroboree’ with John Davis and Evelyn Roth, Red Poles Gallery, March 2007
‘Eclecticity’ with Evelyn Roth and John Davis, South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa, May 2007
‘Textural Tensions’ with Kim Thomson, Willy Hill Café, Willunga, August 2007

Solo Exhibitions

Tandanya Café, Adelaide, Nov 2001
‘Taste of the Outback’, Waverley House, Willunga, Sept 2002
‘Inner Reflections’, The Art Room Gallery, Hyde Park, June 2003
‘Ochre Dreaming’, Rawnsley Park Station, Flinders Ranges, July 2003
‘Epi:Fleurean’, Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre, Oct 2004
‘Fleurieu: Four Seasons’, Waverley House, Willunga, March 2005

Competition Wins

2004 Winner, Penola District Business & Tourism Acquisitive Photographic Competition
2005 Winner, Penola District Business & Tourism Acquisitive Photographic Competition
2006 Merit Award, Willunga Almond Blossom Festival Photographic Competition
2007 Merit Award, Alexandrina Photographic Exhibition

MuscularTeeth - breaking patterns

MuscularTeeth was born, raised and lives in Adelaide, South Australia and wouldnt have it any other way. MuscularTeeth started out about four years ago dabbling in the field of electronic music - and quickly getting local radio play and reaching 1st in the electronica genre of JJJ unearthed. Realising that he needed to get more people hooked to his music, MuscularTeeth started to make short videos for the music he wrote so people could stare at something on the screen whilst listening. MuscularTeeth uses vintage footage from the 20's through to the 70's, often splicing dozens of seperate movies, adverts and news reels together to create something quite unique. Quickly his videos became popular on the internet, and this was his mainstay of Art for about two years. The videos either told a story by splicing footage together (see APE VS MAN SPACE WAR as an example) or relied on the footage synchonising heavily with the audio. MuscularTeeth now has 51 videos across the internet and his music has become available on itunes, napster and the like due to this. Well over 130,000 people have watched his videos - and one video NUANCE received 7000 views in a single day on one website alone. MuscularTeeth then started to dabble in photography and started to draw like he did when younger. Joining Redbubble.com his Art/Tshirt range is extensive and he has one tshirt included in the most popular of all time (as well as a tshirt listed as 'Most Wanted' on Mysoti.com). His short story "Air" has been on the front page of AustralianReader.com In 2008 MuscularTeeth was voted the most helpful member of Redbubble.com - out of, at that time, roughly 90,000 members. This was and is a huge award/honor for MuscularTeeth as it reflected on his commitment towards Art and nurturing a community spirit of comradeship with all he meets online and in real life. MuscularTeeth enjoys interaction with everyone. Indeed MuscularTeeth has collaborated with artists (making them music videos) in America, Austria, interstate Australia, and Romania and even more artists throughout the world on other small projects. MuscularTeeth works with a friend in the electronic act "SONTAGE" as a side project, and is also currently working with Tania Rose of NSW on a collaborative CD. Approximatly four years from starting, MuscularTeeth is well on the way towards a succesful career in all things Art - writing, photography, design, music and video. http://www.reverbnation.com/muscularteeth

Opening dates for the Outsiders Festival - Adelaide 2009

We are happy to announce the following dates for the opening of the Outsiders Festival - Adelaide - 1-30 November 2009:

The West Torrens Auditorium
1 Brooker Terrace, Hilton
1 November 2009 - 1:00 - 3.00 PM

The Elbow Gallery - The Parks Community Centre
2-46 Cowan St, Angle Park
5 November 2009 - 10:00-11:00 am.

Contact:
Stefan Maguran
(+618) 8297 5760

JUNK ARTIST Steve Oatway

After 23 years of working in a Government defence environment and discovering ART after attending a welding course, I made a decsion to leave my job and dedicate my life to art. I took a package to get me started in 2004 since that time I have developed my website to share the amazing world of junk art with the world www.renkrn8.com.au I have exhibited in many galleries in South Australia most recent 2009 SALA Festival, Northern Territory, twice in New York City in 2006 and Texas USA. I have appeared on TV, ABC Stateline, Ch 7 News, Ch31 Community Channel most major Adelaide newspapers, American publications, Nickelodeon, Gallery & Studio New York and many Radio Interviews.

Currently working as a fulltime artist in a restored Church at Punthari Mannum S.A after returning from two years living and working as a Team Leader Youth worker on the Imanpa Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory teaching welding, junk art, entering exhibitions and creating short films on the making of art and the art processes.

Yours in ART

A brilliant article

IN SEPTEMBER 2006, the Halle Saint Pierre in Paris hosted a survey of Australian outsider artists. The event was organised by Orange Regional Gallery, without a cent of support from the Australia Council. At the same time, the council spent $1.3 million to see works by Aboriginal artists copied onto the walls and ceiling of the Musee du Quai Branly's administration building. Shortly afterwards, more than $2 million was found to send three artists - and numerous bureaucrats and curators - to the Venice Biennale. Needless to say, the two latter events were hailed as extraordinary triumphs for Australian art abroad, although it is difficult to find much corroboration outside of the Ozco press releases. The Australian outsiders show, which cost about $40,000, having been assisted by the Gordon Darling Foundation, was well received in Paris but hardly made a ripple in Australia. This is a familiar story for outsider artists in this country. Outsider art is the English-language term for that movement the French artist, Jean Dubuffet, dubbed "l'Art brut" or "raw art". To provide the most basic of definitions, outsider art is made by people who work outside of the accepted art networks and institutions. In many cases, the artists suffer from mental illness or disability but the list also includes prisoners, hermits and anyone who simply doesn't fit. There has always been a stigma associated with psychiatric illness and this is reflected in the institutional neglect of outsider art. A few years ago, I lent support to a project that proposed a museum of outsider art for Parramatta. The idea was obviously not sexy for the local council, which is now talking about spending millions on a centre for digital media - a proposal that has the capacity to be an expensive white elephant. It does, however, have the clean, "modern" veneer beloved of politicians and bureaucrats. This attitude is also found in public galleries that have acquired vast quantities of work by insiders such as Mike Parr, who strive to emulate the unselfconscious creative processes of outsiders. They have been less willing to see merit in the genuine article. In other words, while funding bodies and museums have supported all kinds of "radical" art, they have hesitated to get behind anything too conspicuously raw. The National Gallery of Australia possesses a small outsider collection, thanks to a bequest from Peter Fay, who donated part of his private holdings in 2003. Another notable patron is the art dealer Stuart Purves, who has acquired hundreds of works from the Art Projects workshop in Melbourne. The steady growth of local interest in outsider art mirrors a worldwide escalation of exhibitions in private and public venues, dedicated workshops and publications. In the past few years, I've seen exhibitions by outsiders such as Henry Darger and Augustin Lesage in Paris and a survey at London's Whitechapel Gallery that put outsiders alongside some of the biggest names in modern art. If one had to speculate as to why outsider art is becoming more prominent, one need only look at the upper echelons of the contemporary art world where there now exists a cosy - almost conspiratorial - relationship between the big-name artists and the marketplace. In the 1970s, conceptual artists went to extraordinary lengths to avoid making objects that could be co-opted by the art market. Nowadays the game is to make a piece of glittering kitsch or a contemptuous daub and charge the highest possible price. More often than not, some rich but shallow "investor" will buy it. Selling junk to the super-rich is considered to be not only profitable but "subversive". Welcome to the modern world, where all forms of greed and corporate barbarity are justified by the "dismal science" of economics. For certain artists and curators, the grotesque spectacle of such a society, in which everything is measured in monetary terms, holds a perverse fascination. This trend has created an audience of "outsiders" who look to art for a more immediate form of experience. They seek an art that is moving or challenging - that appeals to the heart rather than one's fashion sense..."
How outsiders get a raw deal - John McDonald September 6, 2008 - The Sydney Morning Herald

copyright John McDonald - used with permission

Angela Polglaze, the chainsaw chick

My name is Angela Polglaze and I am a ‘Power Carver’.‘Power Carving’, as the name suggests, is the practice of creating monumental sculpture quickly with the use of powered tools … primarily chainsaws, grinders, sanders, routers and the like. A noisy, jaw dropping, crowd-pleasing spectacle, ‘Power Carving’ has become a popular Performance Art of it’s own accord, with public events drawing huge crowds the world over.13 years ago I was to pick up a chainsaw for the first time in my life with the sole purpose of making art. Immediately hooked, it wasn’t until 2002 that I discovered the International Power Carving Circuit via the internet. Beyond my wildest imaginings this discovery lead to a whirlwind 8 years of carving in over a hundred competitive and non-competitive events around the globe, including Canada and Japan, across the USA and the UK, and various European countries. I was quick to become recognized amongst my peers as one of the leading female competitive power carvers in the world during this time, winning several awards along the way, including being the only woman and non Scottish resident to win 1st place in Scotland (still), and the first female to place 1st in a ‘Masters of the Chainsaw’ chainsaw-only carving event in the USA. A prolific decade for me to say the least, with total dedication to my chosen art practice, and although I have explored various subject matter over the years (and still do), my bold use of color and my ‘Cheesy Chick’ series … or ‘My Girls’ … have undeniably become my signature pieces, with ‘Clown Girl’ winning 3rd in the USA 2006 and ‘Little Miss Leather Fetish’ taking 3rd in the European Open in Steinbeck Germany 2007. In 2006 I was a founding member of the first international female power carving team, the ‘Chainsaw Chix’. It has been a wild, creative and hugely inspirational life journey these past few years, and a terrific amount of fun, but I have missed being home in Australia and I am delighted to be back, and honored to be a participant … alongside some of ‘My Girls’ … in the Outsiders Festival of 2009. We look forward to seeing you there !!

http://www.angela-polglaze.com/

Acknowledgements

The major sponsors for the Outsiders Festival - Adelaide - 1-30 November 2009 so far are: The West Torrens Council, The Parks Community Centre, Redbubble, Raw Vision Magazine and SAFM.
Organisations helping out: CAN (Community Access Network), Arts-Access and Arts-Access-SA, NEAMI, Tutti, Club 68, NAVA, the ABC, the Helpmann Academy, TAFE SA, the Fringe Festival, Downunder Hub.
Special thanks to the following people (in random order) (hope not to miss anyone): Sarah McCarthy, Steve Langdon, Brad Buchel, Renate Nisi, Ava Leitner, Peter Jungle Philips, Mike Retter, Mike Barr, Wendy Olsen, Gerhard Ritter, Mike Greenwood, Miron Abramovich, Lisa Phillip-Harbutt, Alex Bickford, Angela Polglaze, Leon Woods, Tony Moffitt, Mark Roberts, Michelle Mitolo, Paul Hoban, Nicolle Cheung, Peter Tregligas, Paul Collier, and I'm sure I've missed a few. Alzheimers...

Mike Greenwood - an Aussie export to Kiwiland

"I left school at 15 to play footy for Western Suburbs leagues club , started work at 32 and worked for myself as a fencing contractor , later making outdoor furniture , till I retired
was interested in painting so when I retired I just started painting, as like in all my other pursuits in life , did it with no training or teaching whatsoever

work in oils , and am now going to concentrate on pet and people portraits , I'm actually selling all I can do, and am getting lots of inquiries

I'm happy about that , and I suppose its not bad for an uneducated old bloke"

Mike G

See his works and read his fascinating story here:

http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w185/Ocker1/paintings/?action=view&current=DSC00150.jpg

http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w185/Ocker1/paintings/?action=view&current=DSC00151.jpg

Brandon Ross - Lord Masque

Apostles of Black sunshine

Lord Masque (Brandon Ross) is a Philadelphia area musician and outsider artist. He is a founding member/bass guitarist of the avant/progressive rock band the RedMasque and has composed two rune tone songs for the website of Inventor Karl Welz. He as been creating numerous artworks on and off since 2000 and recently had anoriginal oil pastel drawing “Quizaxx” featured in a juried exhibition at theManayunk art center.
“Always having an interest in art, metaphysics, and creating intuitively, I began doing several drawings, and then paintings, and oil pastels, and noticed a repeating theme-mostly strange figures surrounded by or connecting to geometric shapes, stryations, and patterns that seem to part of each other. These pictures invoke something deep in the psyche, and are eerily familiar in many ways. I believe what is depicted is a truer more pure reality and that we may be in the “canvas” of these beings.
I think the ultimate goal for a person should be to achieve personal and spiritual freedom and live life on your own terms and if somehow“drawing” things out can go towards achieving these ends then intuitive art especially what exists on the “outside” is a highly valuable resource.
Red bubble page:http://www.redbubble.com/people/lordmasque
band website:www.theredmasque.com
blog:http://lordmasque.blogspot.com/

Nicolle Cheung - a heart left behind

Growing up, I’ve always leaned towards the art side of school. Art has always been that little thingamabob, living in the back of my head. I’ve never been taught or trained to produce the drawings that I do and I’ve never actually thought that my drawings could be worth anything to anyone, or even be considered art. Drawing used to be just a hobby of mine, something for me to do when I had nothing else to do but I started taking my art more seriously after I finished high school; which is where I found myself being hit with the cruel reality of life. The drawings I’ve created since then, are mostly personal pieces, that are basically, just my emotions in 2D form. I find myself putting too much time and effort into one piece, that often, by the end of it all, I resent it, but then someone will come along and point something out that I’ve not noticed and it’ll make me feel otherwise. I tend to only use pencils and fine liners for my drawings but if you come across one of my coloured drawings, you’ll know they’ve been worked on especially more than the others because I personally dislike having to use colour on my drawings, I would avoid colour if I could, but sometimes it just makes that tiny bit of difference.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/heartleftbehind

Mel Kelly - Recyclopath

"My practice involves creating wearable and sculptural textile creations using primarily recycled and discarded materials. Clothing made from recycling appeals to me as an anarchistic antidote to Western consumption. I often use these creations in performance.

As an Outsider, a person who suffers from mental illness I have always felt more eccentric than society allows. I find it most difficult to relate to what our society dictates as to how women should behave. My practice is subversive in that I play with pre existing gender codes. Expressing myself publicly in a transformist way is a liberating impulse.

Modifications through clothing, embellishment and self adornment has always been essential to my existence. My practice of textile and wearable art is also a respectful homage to the generations of craftswomen before me, who created out of necessity. I create because it is the only thing that seems to keep my mind
more...balanced. My works tell personal stories of my sexuality, my strange life, my complex psyche. It is my journey of being unique in a world full of social institutions that try to control us all.

Performance has recently developed as part of my practice and it is a visceral response to the times we live in as well as the fact that my art/life cannot be separated. During spoken-word performances I feel as though I can add complexity and depth to my art creations."

Mel Kelly

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring" - Marilyn Monroe
"Everything is such a sort of stoned state... I walk around with a bunch of violets in my hand and a sledgehammer and a grain of sand in my head. I am happy." - Brett Whiteley

http://www.myspace.com/decorerpunkgirl

Glenn Drewitt

Glenn Drewitt is an untrained artist. He has been making paintings since he was a child. Glenn enjoyed doing cartoons at school, on paper with a pen or pencil. He didn’t really get stuck into painting until about four years ago when he had the opportunity to get some paint and canvas and paint brushes.

Glenn mostly works from home and usually doesn’t spend too much time on the paintings. Recently he and two other artists held an exhibition Contrasting Colours at Axis Gallery, Parks Community Centre.

Glenn particularly likes doing portraits of famous personalities. He generally works with oil and acrylic on canvas, though he has also used other mediums including oil pastels, charcoal and pencil.

Mike Retter

"I paint about television. This became my subject naturally. Television has a power over a space and demands out attention. It lights up a dark room with flickering light. We learn more from the television than school. Technology is changing and combining with one another into something new. We are surrounded like never before.

Basically I paint about the medium of TV and use all kinds of techniques and take a year to finish a painting. I like the pictures to soak up a year of my life. It's not a consious thing it is just how it happens."

Mike Retter

In 2008 Mike Retter has exhibited at the ABC for six months.
Mike is one of the strongest supporters of the Outsiders Festival.
You can see more of his very intriguing work on Youtube.
http://mikeretter.tripod.com/

Ella Dent

"I have always created art. I began, as most do, with coloured pencil as a child. This progressed to pastel drawings and small, but incredibly detailed illuminated lettering combined with calligraphic verse as a teenager. My early twenties heralded my first real foray into painting, which brought with it an outpouring of emotion: sweeping brushstrokes, textural depths, canvases to sink into.
Now? I don’t paint as much as I should, but have just started a work that takes me back to my roots. Coloured pencil on paper – with text. Love it!"

Sarah McCarthy

Not quite an outsider, Sarah is part of the group that is organising the Outsiders Festival 2009. She co-hosts the Outsiders group on Redbubble.

She is an inspired artist, a great organiser and a strong fighter for human and animal rights.

Recently she has organised the FIRE LAND PICTURE STORIES charity exhibition and silent auction for the 2009 RSPCA Bushfire Appeal where students at Warriappendi High School have been creating paintings expressing empathy for the animals affected by the bush fires that swept through Victoria in January. The works have been successfully auctioned. It has been a great event and another great achievement for Sarah.

Outsiders Festival – Adelaide 2009 – update

1. The dates for the festival have been finalized: 1 – 30 November 2009

2. Two venues for the festival have been confirmed – The Auditorium – West Torrens City Council – and
The Elbow Gallery at the Parks Community Centre - more to be announced shortly.

3. Registrations for the festival have been re-open until the end of August: AU$ 20 for three pieces – max 100 x 100 x 5 cm (originals or prints), and/or AU$ 5 for three pieces to be projected on a screen during the festival.

4. All works must be submitted between 1 and 15 September 2009 to:

Stefan Maguran

27 Bransby Avenue

Plympton, SA, 5038

AUSTRALIA

5. Redbubble, our major sponsor have kindly offered free shipment for up to three works printed by Redbubble per artist. The offer is valid for two weeks only between 1- 15 September.

6. Please advise on sell prices and remember that we charge 10% commission and works that are not retrieved by 7 December 2009 can be left in consignment with the Stefan Maguran gallery, until sold. (same commission applies).

7. If you wish your profile to be featured on the Outsiders festival blog, please send Stefan Maguran a one page profile and one small picture of one of your best pieces.

8. Any questions, please contact Stefan Maguran at stefan@maguran.com

Miron Abramovici

"I am a well-known researcher and textbook author in computer engineering (Google my name if you are curious). But two years ago I discovered my inner artist and I am happy to share with you the results of this amazing self-discovery.
Photography became my passion, obsession, and a main reason of being. I hope you can see the passion behind the artwork. I love to discover the world through the eye of the camera, to see its hidden beauty or unusual features of “ordinary” things. My artwork translates my fascination with abstract patterns, reflections, and surrealistic images.
My photo “Guardian at the mental ward” took the first place in the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP – NJ) annual Fine Art Photograpahy Competition."http://mironab.redbubble.com/

Mark Roberts

Mark Roberts - Bossicus
I began producing Art in 2007 after being involved in starting an Art group for individuals with mental health issues. I work in oils mainly but also enjoy charcoal for its directness in making an image. I have mainly concentrated on figurative and landscape work and also enjoy combining the two. My favourite works come from expressing some part of my personal story. Art has given me a whole new focus in life and I find it a very positive experience.

Solo Show- Haunted By Arrows, Axis Gallery,

The Parks May 2009

Joint Shows - Art On The Edge, Arts Access, February 2009

Mini Art, Adelaide Fringe, February 2009

A-Frame Auction, Arts Access, Adelaide Festival Centre, Nov 2008

Calendar Art, Mental Health Coalition Calendar, Oct 2008.

www.artinthearvo.blogspot.com

Jungle Phillips

If you are in Adelaide and want to see something really interesting, go to see Jungle Phillips at 558 Marion Road. You won't regret it.
He is currently concentrating on getting his works ready for the South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA) in August.

Steve Langdon

A true Outsider, Steve has started painting eleven years ago and he's a very happy man.

If you're in Adelaide make sure you pay a visit to his studio on Sturt Street in the city (a short walk from the CBD).

Be warned, though, you may end up bying some of his art.

What is an Outsider?

I've been asked to clarify what is an Outsider.
After hosting for quite a while the Outsiders group on Redbubble, all I can say is that an Outsider is a person without prejudice who makes extremely good art.
Check it out for yourselves.

As nowadays people feel left out if they are not being categorised, here is a totally non-exhaustive and un-scientific list of what an Outsider can be:
1. other than professional artist
2. people excluded from visual arts organisations, forums, groups by peers
3. people isolated by the visual arts community
4. people despised by the visual arts community
5. people with no formal training making visual art
6. contestants given little chance of winning an art competition-a long shot
7. people using non-conventional methods or tools to make visual art
8. people not living in Australia and making visual art
9. people taking photographs outdoors
10. people not speaking English making visual art
11. people with disabilities making visual art
12. children making visual art
13. graffiti artists
14. buskers
15. street artists
16. prisoner artists – although they are mostly inside

Mike Retter and Kelseym

We are thrilled to announce the invaluable support of Mike Retter.
While congratulating him, check out his work:
http://mikeretter.tripod.com/

We are also thrilled to announce Kelseym's invaluable support.
Kelseym's work can be admired here:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/hendo268

Update 2 May 2009

It has been about one year now since I began planning for this festival.
I have organised the Outsiders group in Redbubble and the group now has about 300 members.
Until yesterday I had a full time day job and now I have some time to get into action.
The major obstacle I am facing is that in Australia, particularly Adelaide the word Outsider is being seen as very negative.
Organisations that work with people with disabilities in particular are against this term.
I have tried to change it to Visionary, but Redbubble have refused to do the change.
The good news is that Overseas the term is widely accepted, therefore the majority of members in Redbubble are from America.
Interesting also is that the term is nowadays very broad- it includes plein-air painters (outside!) photographers, people with no formal training, unemployed, etc.
We have a committee that is involved in organising the festival and we are in the process of finalising the venues and the program.
We are continually looking for new participants and sponsors.

Stefan Maguran
http://www.maguran.com/
http://www.stefanmaguran.blogspot.com/
www.stefan-maguran.blogspot.com

The official logo

If you wish to take part, please register through the Outsiders group at http://www.redbubble.com/