Page 11 - Boca Expsore - May '21

Boca Exposure, Page 11
Council Corner: ‘An Irresistible Urge to Create’ from page 10

Summer Amenities Forecast is frequently called Outsider Art began in the early
The History of Outsider Art. The interest in what

20th-century with psychiatrists who studied artists who
By Monica Mayotte, The other exciting project is our new municipal golf course were institutionalized. In 1922, the book, Artistry of the
who was just re-elected at the Boca Country Club. This course was donated to the city Mentally Ill, became influential to the Surrealists. Later,
to another term on the by the Boca Raton Resort and Club back in the fall of 2020. in 1948, Jean Dubuffet and others founded the Compagnie
Raton City Council, and We formally take possession of the property in October 2021. de l’Art Brut, a collection of what they called “raw art”
who is CRA Chair. Ms. City staff is currently analyzing what improvements need to – art made outside the traditions of fine art. According to
Mayotte has been a resident be done to open the course to the public. This property also Kathleen Goncharov, the senior curator of the Boca Raton
of Boca Raton for more has tennis courts, a pool, a clubhouse and other amenities Museum of Art: “This interest has recently increased
than 20 years, active in that the city is determining how to offer to the public. We are exponentially, as more mainstream institutions celebrate
the community both in our working with the Boca Country Club residents to ensure their these kinds of artists. “Outsider” artists are now most
local schools and as a city concerns are addressed and we can have a smooth transition definitely “In.” Many controversial terms have been
advisory board member. to this becoming a public facility for all to enjoy. bandied about to describe them, such as self-taught (in
It feels as if spring, Our annual Strategic Planning meetings just wrapped up addition to “outsider”), but no truly definitive name yet.
and even summer, has arrived. I hope everyone had an a few days ago. The purpose of this set of three-day meetings I suggest we call all creative works that are arresting,
enjoyable spring holiday season. is to lay out the city’s goals for the next year and to determine intriguing, and interesting conceptually, as simply “art”
First and foremost, I’d like to thank all of the voters our Capital Improvement Plan for the next five years. and leave it at that. Jean Dubuffet said it best when he
for their vote for my re-election to the Boca Raton City Unfortunately, these meetings were cancelled in 2020 due to declared that “art’s best moments are when it forgets what
Council. I am deeply grateful. I will continue to represent the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay up-to-date on the outcome of its own name is,” says Goncharov. “Artists create – that’s
every Boca resident with integrity and compassion. I’m these meetings on the city’s website, www.myboca.us. what they do.”
looking forward to what the future holds for Boca Raton I hope everyone who wants a vaccine has been given Until 20 years ago, this work was not widely accepted
and to working with my council colleagues. the opportunity to get one. And I hope our younger adult as fine art. It wasn’t shown in museums, and professionals
There are a few exciting projects that are currently in residents are beginning to sign up for their appointments. You from the art world looked down upon it. “This challenges
progress. The first one is the construction of our newest can follow my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ the primary beliefs of traditional artmaking and has
waterfront park, the Wildflower and Silver Palm parks councilmembermonicamayotte, for the latest vaccine location added a lot to the plurality of art,” says Monroe. “Being
in our downtown on the Intracoastal Waterway and information. I posted a live document that is constantly being surrounded by such a large collection of artworks made
Palmetto Park Road. Many years ago, the voters of Boca updated with the latest vaccine information. by self-taught artists is invigorating. Especially because
Raton decided that the Wildflower property should be a This pandemic is not over yet. We are seeing signs that of their visual resolve to express themselves without
park open to the public. The Silver Palm park is Boca’s we are getting it under control, but we must stay vigilant and convention.”
public boat ramp. The first step in the process is to raise ensure we continue to follow the CDC guidelines by wearing Most of the artists in this exhibition worked in total
the seawall at the Wildflower Park, which is currently a mask, washing our hands, and continuing to be socially isolation. There were no political points to be made. These
underway. City Council recently approved the budget for distanced. We will get there very soon. The better we adhere are people who created solely by delving into their own
the project and construction will be underway very soon. to the CDC guidelines, the quicker we will see an end to the psyche and expressing themselves purely. Their art is not
We are looking forward to opening the new Wildflower pandemic! part of anything else except their own reality, they were
Park and the updated Silver Palm Park in early 2022. Take care everyone and stay safe. not following canon. “There’s nothing between you and
their art because it is so heartfelt,” adds Monroe. “This
project gives you a glimpse into their psyche, which is
so different from ours. Their whole being comes across.
As the title suggests, they were driven to create.”

The “inlaid paintings” of John Gerdes appear to be made by
Save Up To WE ARE assembling small wooden pieces, but each one is tediously
painted to mimic varieties of wood. He incorporated an
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array of textures, knots, and grains to further delight the
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eye. Gerdes’ electronically-driven sculptures are three-
artwork. Using discarded computer circuit boards, he
constructed elaborate edifices and occasionally lighting
fixtures.

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CANADIAN PO BOX 670393 George Voronovsky was a solitary figure among a sea of
elderly Jewish retirees in old South Beach. No one saw
DISCOUNT DRUG Coral Springs, FL 33067 the pictures that were tacked up throughout his room,
painted with cheap watercolors and inexpensive brushes
SERVICES Email: cdds@bellsouth.net on pizza box tops and other scraps that he had found in
alleys. His visual recollections reflected an idealized past
of his charmed youth in the Ukraine that he preferred to
his post-war reality, finding solace through his artmaking.
Serving and Caring for our Customers www.cdds-online.com Most of Voronovsky’s works have never been seen before.
Gary Monroe has been a custodian of his life’s work for
Throughout the United States since 2003 38 years.