Manufuturing

Manufuturing March 4 – April 23, 2016

Reflecting on the contemporary art trend of “Zombie Formalism”, we highlight work that rebels against such reductivist practices and instead embraces abstraction in its purist form, with gusto. While art critics have described this “cerebral” painting style of monochromatic fields or process-fetish abstraction as repetitive and generic, in the hands of Creative Growth artists the act of painting becomes expressive once more in our exhibition, Manufuturing. Lifted from a drawing by Creative Growth artist Ed Walters, the title is both a symbolic abstraction of a contrived alphabet stencil and a witty mash-up that in more subtle terms provokes the question: what is the alternative to art’s manufactured future?

For the artists at Creative Growth, the answer is being part of an inspired macrocosm that enables each work to be a singular representation of the artist who imagined it. Rather than reference art movements, artist Jane Kassner effaces them with her painterly collages of Art Forum ads. The experimental aesthetic of Miguel Palacios’ layered paintings echo no one but his own name—the letters “MGANEL” are sprinkled throughout—and the esoteric script of Donald Mitchell is as non-derivative as the artist himself. This body of work is not manufactured or self-conscious; instead it shows an optimistic future for art making, untainted by the influence of the art market, its collectors, or the pressure to produce mechanical imitations of a recycled vocabulary.

Also on view are works from the “Mixed Media Action Painting” Visiting Artist Workshop, led by artist Greg Crawford. In this workshop, artists were introduced to the concept of action painting, where the physicality of working on large media while standing enabled bold, physical mark-making and serendipitous discoveries in painterly expression.

During our Members’ Preview, join Director Tom di Maria for a conversation about the newly launched The Creative Growth Book celebrating the first 40 years of the center. Tom and several of the book’s contributors will discuss the evolution of the book’s design, writing, and the road to publication.

Exhibition Opening: FRIDAY, MARCH 4 MEMBERS’ PREVIEW: 11AM - 2PM MAIN EVENT: 5PM - 9PM SOUND BY KAORI SUZUKI & PETER WOODS BAR + SNACKS

Judith Scott—Bound and Unbound | Aspen Art Museum | Mar 11-Jul 10, 2016

Initially presented at the Brooklyn Museum, New York, Bound and Unbound is the first solo museum survey of artist Judith Scott (1943–2005), whose career spanned just seventeen years. Born in Columbus, OH, with Down syndrome, Scott was introduced to art making at Creative Growth, where she produced a remarkable body of mixed media sculpture. Her powerful, complex forms reveal a delicate and tactile sensibility alongside a deeply considered use of color. Opening Reception Mar 10, 2016 6:00 pm

Click here for more info

Beyond Trend 2016 | Press Release

PRESS RELEASE / EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Media Contact: Jennifer O’Neal jennifer@www.creativegrowth.org 510-836-2340 x 20

February 18, 2016 — Oakland’s Creative Growth Art Center announces the 6th Annual Beyond Trend Runway Event and Fundraiser, Saturday, April 23, 6:00 – 9:00 pm, at the Oakland Museum of California.

Creative Growth, an internationally celebrated studio and gallery for artists with disabilities presents the Beyond Trend Runway Event & Fundraiser. This much anticipated and historically sold-out event provides critical annual support to the Center’s visionary community of over 150 artists.

Beyond Trend presents a one of kind, unscripted, couture fashion performance, featuring artists from the Creative Growth studio and their designs, alongside a social event weaving together art, fashion, music and notable Bay Area cuisine. For the first time the fundraiser will be held at the Oakland Museum of California. Tickets are available from $50 to $500.

Recently the subject of a New York Times Magazine feature, Creative Growth has partnered with the world’s leading designers, contemporary artists and galleries in order to advance the artwork of people with disabilities within the contemporary art world. Works from the organization’s artists are included in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, along with notable collections worldwide.

A newly added dinner and private concert will feature a menu by celebrated chefs Alice Waters and Cal Peternell of Chez Panisse and Charlie Hallowell of Pizzaiolo. The Beyond Trend Host Committee includes Paper Magazine editor-in-chief, Kim Hastreiter, photographer and Warhol collaborator Paige Powell as well as local San Francisco, high fashion innovators Ben and Chris Ospital of Modern Appealing Clothing. The post-runway show dinner features an exclusive concert by one of the world’s most elegant live bands, Pink Martini.

Runway event tickets are $50 - $175 Tickets may be purchased starting March 11 at www.creativegrowth.org

Reservations for the private seated dinner and live concert start at $500 and may be purchased by contacting:dan@www.creativegrowth.org / 510-836-2340 x 17

Event Details: Saturday, April 23, 2016 6:00-9:00PM The Oakland Museum of California Tickets on sale March 11 @ www.creativegrowth.org

Beyond Trend 2015 Video

Tony Pedemonte featured in Cavin-Morris group show | Maverick | February 18 - March 26, 2016

Maverick:

1- a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates 2- a person pursuing rebellious, even potentially disruptive, policies or ideas 3- unorthodox, unconventional, nonconformist “Outsider art” is not a movement. Each artist, regardless of background essentially reinvents the wheel for personal expression. What they create is contemporary art but none of it is made in conversation with an art historical agenda. Process is more important than discourse. The work is made in trance, or as a simple act of self-location in an ever-kinetic universe.

In a year of great exhibitions and press attention, the field of non-mainstream art (art brut or ‘outsider’) is finally gaining the critical scrutiny it merits.The past couple years has been an extremely rich time for finding, and featuring new artists previously unseen in the United States, and elsewhere in the world.

This isn’t just a case of new for the sake of new’ It is about finding artists outside mainstream channels who will be important future additions to the field. We are open to possibilities from all over the world and MAVERICK! will feature 25 artists from the U.S., Indonesia, France, Belgium, Austria, Haiti, Jamaica, India, Japan, and a special presentation of artists from Czech Republic.

www.cavinmorris.com 210 Eleventh Avenue, Suite 201 (between West 24th and 25th streets) New York, NY 10001

t. (212) 226-3768

Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10am-6pm Saturdays, 11am-6pm

Creative Growth at Printed Matter’s LA ART BOOK FAIR | 2016

Creative Growth will be sharing a booth with White Columns at Printed Matter's LA Art Book Fair Booth #S02

February 12 – February 14, 2016 Preview: Thursday, February 11, 2016, 6–9 pm BUY TICKETS HERE The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

Printed Matter presented the fourth annual LA Art Book Fair, from February 11 – 14, 2016, at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

A preview will be held on the evening of Thursday, February 11, 2016, from 6 to 9 pm, at the Geffen Contemporary, with special musical performances by:

MOON UTERUS Mel Shimkovitz aka DJ Macho Mel Devendra Banhart aka DJ Devvy Downer Amy von Harrington aka DJ penisgraffitiblacktooth

and CHRISTEENE.

You may purchase tickets for the Opening Preview here, which includes the Enamel Pin Fundraising Edition by Sigrid Calon (while supplies last!).

Free and open to the public, Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair is a unique event for artists’ books, art catalogs, monographs, periodicals, and zines presented by over 250 international presses, booksellers, antiquarians, artists, and independent publishers. Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair 2015 saw over 34,700 visitors over the course of three and a half days.

Printed Matter’s LA ART BOOK FAIR is the companion fair to Printed Matter’s NY ART BOOK FAIR, held every fall in New York. In September 2014, over 35,000 artists, book buyers, collectors, dealers, curators, independent publishers, and enthusiasts attended Printed Matter’s LA ART BOOK FAIR.

This year’s fair features SPAIN FOCUS Curated by Libros Mutantes & La Casa Encendida. Supported by Acción Cultural Española A/CE.

Participants: Bandiz Studio Belleza Infinita Dalpine Kitschic Libros Mutantes Terranova TUNICA

FUNDRAISING EDITIONS: Printed Matter is pleased to present three new Fundraising Editions to benefit the LA Art Book Fair, by Sterling Ruby, Misaki Kawai, and Sigrid Calon!

Hours and Location

Preview: Thursday, February 11, 6–9 pm Printed Matter’s LA ART BOOK FAIR, free and open to the public: Friday February 12, 1pm-6pm Saturday February 13, 11am-7pm Sunday February 14, 11am-6pm

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA 152 North Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 626-6222 moca.org (map)

For more information, call (212) 925-0325 or write laartbookfair@printedmatter.org

Border/Line

Neighborhoods are shifting, development is on the rise, Oakland is changing. It’s hard to escape these sentiments nowadays. We’ve watched the streets outside the Creative Growth windows change since we moved to 355 24th Street nearly thirty-five years ago. Inside the studio it’s business as usual, but these cultural and socioeconomic shifts have undoubtedly affected many of the people, artists and visitors alike, who come to Creative Growth each day from all corners of the Bay Area. For our upcoming exhibition, Border/Line, we take a look at how Creative Growth artists Rosena Finister, John Martin, William Scott, William Tyler, and others construct space, define boundaries, and carve out a community in light of the changes around town.

POINT-OF-VIEW | Susan Janow: Upstairs in our Viewing Room gallery, Susan Janow’s sculptural work explores line and space as formal elements. Stacking and arranging her meticulously drawn grids, Janow creates new geometries and unique forms in wood.

Exhibition Opening: THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 MEMBERS’ PREVIEW: 11AM - 2PM MAIN EVENT: 5PM - 8PM with a vinyl wave of 80's dance music by Kyle Smith BAR + SNACKS

Outsider Art Fair 2016, New York

Booth #48 Thursday, January 21st Early access 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Vernissage 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday, January 22nd 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Saturday, January 23rd 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sunday, January 24th 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Representing:  Alice Wong, Aurie Ramirez, Dan Miller, Donald Mitchell, Dwight Mackintosh, Susan Janow, Terri Bowden, William Scott, Monica Valentine, George Wilson, Tony Pedemonte and Judith Scott

Contact T +1 212 337 3338 E info@outsiderartfair.com

Metropolitan Pavilion 125 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011

outsiderartfair.com

Dan Miller featured in Raw Vision Magazine 88 | By Tom di Maria

Our Artists -- Our Programs and the New York Times

A new article in the New York Times Magazine provides a comprehensive overview of Creative Growth’s history and the compelling work of our artists.

Your support makes this work possible.

Your gifts matter. Please support our 160 artists with disabilities so that Creative Growth can continue to serve them in the years to come.

Donate

Read the Article

Judith Scott in Drawing for Sculpture | Tiger Strikes Asteroid, New York

Tiger Strikes Asteroid is pleased to announce the opening of its first exhibition of 2016, Drawing for Sculpture, a survey of drawings by forty-one sculptors:

Alice Adams, Margery Amdur, Rachel Beach, Charlotte Becket, Sarah Bednarek, Louise Bourgeois, Amy Brener, Amanda Browder, Nicole Cherubini, Lauren Clay, Diana Cooper, Petah Coyne, Joy Curtis, Kate Starbuck Elliot, Stacy Fisher, Martha Friedman, Rachel Higgins, Kristen Jensen, Katy Krantz, Denise Kupferschmidt, Emily Noelle Lambert, Katerina Lanfranco, Fabienne Lasserre, Elisa Lendvay, Jill Levine, Esperanza Mayobre, Shari Mendelson, Virginia Lee Montgomery, Megan Pahmier, Claudia Peña Salinas, Sheila Pepe, Meridith Pingree, Courtney Puckett, Carolyn Salas, Gabriela Salazar, Lisa Schilling, Judith Scott, Michelle Segre, Shinique Smith, Courtney Tramposh, and Eileen Weitzman.

The exhibition is curated by Brooklyn based artist, Courtney Puckett. She writes, “Drawing for Sculpture is an immersive environment; a library of plans, observations, thoughts, doodles, maps. I regard drawing expansively as two-dimensional conceptual support for three-dimensional form. My invitation to the artists assumes drawing plays a role whether major (works in and of themselves) or minor (doodles in sketchbook). These artists opened their studios to me and bravely shared the raw edges of their process, the vulnerability of their ideas, the ‘real’ work behind the work that get’s shown.”

A blog of studio visits and artwork : https://drawingforsculpture.wordpress.com/

A zine cataloging the work in this ambitious survey is forthcoming.

Tiger Strikes Asteroid (TSA) New York 1329 Willoughby Avenue #2A Brooklyn NY 11237

Map

more

Holiday 2015: The Great Escape

The Great Escape(scroll down for PRESS IMAGES) 

Exhibition opening on Friday, December 4, 5:30 to 9:00PM December 4, 2015 – January 16, 2016 

When droll winter days call, an exotic getaway is often the perfect solution. Forgo the stress of out-of-town travel this season and make your final destination Creative Growth with an art-filled journey in The Great Escape! Between remote tropical islands, wild jungles, and underwater realms, your inner wanderlust is sure to be satisfied at our annual Holiday show and Studio sale.

No passports required or baggage limit at our doors—everyone can experience the artful interpretations of relaxing retreats both near and far. Trek through the vast Californian outdoors in Laura Jo Pierce’s map paintings; travel the open seas with artist George Wilson’s lush ship drawings; seek out an idyllic oasis through artist Heather Edgar’s miniature ceramic islands; or if it’s a true escape you crave, hop on the Skyline Friendly Organizations Citizen Ship and be transported out of this world to William Scott’s utopian galaxy. Including artwork by Donald Mitchell, John Hiltunen, Terri Bowden, Alice Wong, and many more.

At this shopper’s paradise, you’ll want to pack your bags full of amazing Studio sale finds and original artwork from over 100 artists! Bring home one-of-a-kind textiles and customized furniture, ceramics, rugs, mosaics, wood, drawings and paintings, prints and more.  Look for limited edition artist inspired gift items: custom Baggu reusable tote bags with art by William Tyler, a special apron collaboration with Small Trade Company, new apparel designs, enamel keychains and pins by artist John Martin, and “The Adventures of a Snowman” holiday card pack featuring the witty illustrations of artist Nick Pagan.

At Creative Growth, the “wish you were here” sentiment goes beyond the unique artist postcards decking our windows (and your mailboxes) this season. Here, the magnetic feeling that draws people in and stirs the desire to stay in this inspiring escape stems from the support of people like you.

Each purchase made gives back to artists with disabilities and their Oakland based studio program, so navigate your way to our Holiday shopping event and once-a-year Studio sale. Plus stick around for the party with food that will transport you to Mexico, icy treats in authentic Baltimore fashion, drinks, and live music straight from the Bayou!

Exhibition Opening & Party: FRIDAY, December 4 MEMBERS’ PREVIEW: 5:00 to 5:30PM PUBLIC EVENT: 5:30 to 9:00PM LIVE MUSIC BY: JimBo Trout & The Fishpeople

TASTY TACO POP-UP BY: Tacos Oscar ICY TREATS & SWEETS BY: SKYLITE SNOWBALLS Beer generously donated by: LINDEN STREET BREWERY® 

ALSO OPEN THREE SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING, 10AM to 3PM:

• December 5
• December 12
• December 19  

George Wilson, Untitled, 2013, Prismacolor on paper, 22 x 30 inches

Creative Growth at NADA Miami, December 3 – 5, 2015

Visit Creative Growth during NADA!

The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) once again opens its renowned art fair in Miami to vigorously pursue new or underexposed art that is not typical of the “art establishment.” NADA’s fair is held alongside Art Basel Miami Beach and takes place Thursday, December 3 through Saturday, December 5. 

NADA, Miami Beach 2015 Fontainebleau Miami Beach (NEW VENUE!) 4441 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 

Including artwork by: John Hiltunen Dwight Mackintosh Dan Miller David Parsons William Scott Gerone Spruill Ray Vickers Alice Wong Handmade bags and rugs from the Creative Growth Studio 

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: http://www.newartdealers.org/Fairs/2015/MiamiBeach

Extra Celestial | Curated by Tom di Maria

December 11, 2015 - January 16, 2016 Creative Growth Art Center to pleased to partner with Crosstown Arts to present the exhibition Extra Celestial. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Crosstown Arts is a contemporary arts organization dedicated to further cultivating the creative community by providing resources and programs integrating varying components of exhibition, performance, production, education, and retail.

In Extra Celestial, Creative Growth artists Luis Aguilera, David Albertsen, Terri Bowden, Susan Janow, Allan Lofberg, Dan Miller, Donald Mitchell, William Scott, Ruth Stafford, William Tyler, Merritt Wallace and Ed Walter explore concepts of inner and outer space.

This ethereal grouping of works on paper presents an otherworldly and highly personal view of inner explorations and celestial journeys. Often abstract, always visionary, these colorful and dynamic paintings and drawings serve as maps to a galaxy of dreams and to compelling utopian realities.

An important component of Extra Celestial is the gallery premiere of "Starquarius", the new space exploration video from the Creative Growth Video Production Workshop that reflects and re-considers the iconic sci-fi films of our lives.

For more information click HERE

Crosstown Arts Gallery 422 N. Cleveland St. Memphis, TN 38104

Director's Note | Year End Letter

Dear Friend,

Not everyone gets to be a part of history.

Creative Growth’s history is the story of people with developmental disabilities becoming contemporary artists. Artists whose work now influences other artists, impacts our culture, and increases the capacity for people with disabilities to achieve beyond what many have imagined. Our story is still evolving. With your support, we’ll make the next decade our most important ever.

Look at what has already changed. In my office I keep a progressive publication from the early 1970’s, when Creative Growth was founded. It is called Life with a Retarded Adult, and it discusses whether a family can bring an adult child with a disability out to a restaurant or if they should always eat at home. This is the environment in which Creative Growth was born. It’s a stark reminder of how radical our art experiment was and how far we have come.

We continue to make history in our studio everyday. This past year:

• Facebook commissioned artists John Martin and Kim Clark to create large-scale wall installations that will become permanent parts of its new Frank Gehry designed headquarters in Menlo Park, CA.

• Bound and Unbound, a major traveling retrospective exhibition of Judith Scott’s eighteen years of sculpture making, was presented at the Brooklyn Museum to excellent reviews from The New Yorker and The New York Times.

• Our Video Production Workshop presented a new 30-minute film, Starquarius, in multiple East Bay locations and is preparing for national gallery screenings.

• We provided leadership in the field through consultations and lectures about our work at gatherings of international curators and arts administrators in San Francisco, New York, Vancouver and Tokyo.

Everyday at Creative Growth, new artists find their way and achieve the unexpected. Artists like Monica Valentine. Have you seen Monica’s multicolored sculpture composed of pins and beads in our gallery? Optically magical, tactilely enticing, these are made by a woman who has been totally blind since birth. Her path towards making art that involves detailed handwork, pins and intricate color patterns defies what some might expect her to do. She is changing the way in which the world views artists who are blind.

Monica’s story is a Creative Growth story. Individuals rising above their circumstances, art serving as a fundamental human expression, each of us supporting and being inspired by one another.

We have more artists to serve, but we need funding to continue our work. Sixty percent of our annual budget comes from individual donations.

Artists like Monica need your gifts to help support:

• Our $150,000 annual art supply budget• Transportation costs for our artists to get to us from around the Bay Area• Lunches for those who are unable to bring food with them• Presentation of artists’ work in five countries• Our talented staff - who support, mentor and befriend our artists six days a week...and have for over four decades

Forty years ago our artists lived in an entirely different world, one filled with stigma and misunderstanding. Let’s not go back there. Let’s move forward and forge a new path together. With your support, we will continue to make history happen.

Today, I am happy to say there is a new book in my office. Simply called The Creative Growth Book, it reviews our 40-year history and includes new essays by Matthew Higgs and David Byrne, and new writing from the USA and Europe about our artists, our history and our projects. It’s an essential new review of our history, filled with compelling images and artwork that have never been seen before. The book will not be released until 2016, but is available to you now in recognition of your support of our artists.

I hope you will be able to meet Monica and all our artists in the studio soon, and that you will be a part of what we will continue to do together. Monica and our 160 other artists are hoping for your support.

Every dollar matters. Email me at tom@www.creativegrowth.org if you have any questions about what your support will do.

We are going further still. Come help us write the next chapter, we need your support.

Wishing you peace and creativity this holiday season,

Tom di Maria
Director

CGbook2015

P.S. Receive an advance copy of The Creative Growth Book, with a gift of $250 or a monthly pledge of $15 or more.

dRAW, Intuit Museum, Chicago | September 11, 2015 – January 3, 2016

Curated by Jan Petry, this show  focuses on important works from generations past: Martin Ramirez, Henry Darger, August Walla, and Friedrich Schoder-Sonnentstern and more expansively on the new generation of self-taught artists whose work remains authentic and visionary while representative of contemporary times. Featuring work by Creative Growth artists Dan Miller and Dwight Mackintosh.  For more information click here