ARTESIAN
ARTS is a group of artists.Some of these artists have lived
a life excluded from the world of mainstream art, and struggle
with poverty, problems with physical or mental health, or
homelessness and some have learning difficulties with other
individuals following their own unique and artistic path.Art
is produced that is raw, powerful, yet accessible because
it touches the spirit and cannot fail to inspire.
ARTESIAN
exists to promote this art and to provide a forum where
the voices of the artists can be heard. Since its inception
in 1999 ARTESIAN has established a regular magazine, an
active website and on-line gallery, an outreach programme,
and a small publishing press for artists' books, in addition
to holding six highly successful group exhibitions.
ARTESIAN
is part of a world-wide movement that is currently stronger
in the United States, Russia, Australia, and Europe than
in the UK.
ARTESIAN
has received phenomenal response from artists, community
arts projects, and individuals from all over the world for
our work.
The
responses to ARTESIAN's exhibitions and the Magazine have
been almost overwhelming, as suggested by the quotes below:
"BRITAIN
HAS BEEN WAITING 300 YEARS FOR ARTESIAN!" J.H. Self-taught
artist
"I
love the magazine. As I looked through it I got such good
feelings. It was as though I'd met a group of friends who
were exactly on the same wavelength as me and felt excited
about the same things that excite me. In the pages of Artesian
I felt that I'd come home to my spiritual and creative birthplace..."
V.P. Self-taught artist (has had schizophrenia and depression
for 25 years)
"More than anything else in the
magazine, something which touched me deeply, was the information
on all your contributors. For the first time ever I realised
I wasn't alone!!!!! All the original, individual creative
people working within the same area as myself, seeing things
from their perspective, yet all connected by the same vision!
I don't feel like an alien anymore!!" M.O. Self-taught
artist from London, now planning to move to Edinburgh
"Reading
Artesian is really the first time that I have seen so much
wonderful proof that there is a movement to support and
encourage the power, magic and potency of creating. It was
great to see so many people from all walks of life, doing
their own thing outside of the contemporary art scene. I
was very inspired reading the magazine and had a feeling
of belonging to something rather than feeling strung out
on a limb with my creativity. Thanks very much." B.R.
Artist, poet and writer
"I am honoured to have met you.
My client was absolutely glowing as we left your show. The
inspiration and encouragement that you provided is well
commended ... I appreciate all that you have done as far
as motivating and inviting us to be included in your organisation."
J.O., Project Worker, Edinburgh homeless project.
"As
the editor of Raw Vision magazine since 1989, I have been
constantly involved in the world of art and creation. I
can state quite categorically that the work supported by
Artesian is of high quality and Artesian plays an important
role in bringing new art to a wider public. Artesian has
an important part to play in the field of education and
information to the benefit of a world at large." John
Maizels, world authority on Outsider Art, author, and editor
of Raw Vision Magazine.
ARTESIAN
is a new magazine of Upwelling Art and Creativity. ARTESIAN
celebrates the"upwelling" visual arts - images,
writings and ideas that come from the many self-taught,intuitive
and visionary self-taught artists and creators whose voices
we rarely hear, bu twhose work is raw, inspirational and
touches the spirit. These works arise out of each artist's
inner need to express their own unique personal mythology,
iconography and symbolism, welling up from deep inside as
a means of guiding and accompanying the artist on their
journey toward self-understanding and self-fulfillment,
regardless of any artistic conventions or of public expectations.ARTESIAN
has been created by an independent group of artists, designers,
writers and poets, all based in Scotland. The artists and
creators who contribute to ARTESIAN are of all ages, and
come from a wide range of backgrounds, including artists
who have survived drug addiction, homelessness, abuse and
poverty, or are living with mental or physical illness or
disability, have varied learning abilities, or are socially
isolated.
ARTESIAN also features the work of creators and writers
who are fascinated by the creative process itself and the
wondrous visionary works that can emerge once one has tapped
into the deep inner source of creativity. These artists
and writers have one quality in common: they all create
their art and writings by giving voice to a deep inner,
visionary or spiritual source.
For many of the artists and creators who contribute to ARTESIAN,
their work lies outside the mainstream of the contemporary
art world, their images and ideas often dismissed or ignored
because they are produced by the marginalised and the self-taught,
according to their own conventions rather than those of
the commercial world.
ARTESIAN is not just a magazine!
ARTESIAN also offers an
OUTREACH PROGRAM, to support and encourage upwelling
creativity in individuals and groups. The Outreach Progamme
includes Creativity Workshops,Creative Gatherings, Exhibitions
of Visionary Art, Trips and Visits.See our Projects Pages
for details.
