The New Orleans urban folk/outsider artists developed
and matured by Barrister's Gallery have reached legendary stature:
Roy
Ferdinand,
Dr. Bob,
Singleton, Amzie,
Big Al Taplet,
Greg Kowelewski,
Also Aswell, Richard Fitzgerald, Salli Ann Glassman,
John Lawson, Welmon
Sharlehorn.
These artists have participated in numerous major exhibitions
in the U.S. and Europe, and they have received adulatory reviews. The
greatest compliment to the achievement of these artists, however, is the
documentary, "Outside the Lines: Life and Death at Barrister's Gallery,"
filmed by Blue Rhino and produced, in part, by Tom Fontana, the producer
of the major HBO shows, Oz and Homicide. Marcus Whittman, the director,
spent the better part of three months interviewing and capturing the bursting
creativity of these splendid artists and exploring their relationship
to Barrister's Gallery. Their works form the spine of many important collections
of American folk/outsider art--their best vintage pieces and newer works
are available at the most responsible price from Barrister's. The
creation of the Barrister's documentary was a watershed experience for
us.
With the expansion of the Gallery's facilities to O.
C. Haley Blvd. and a new commitment to an exhibition schedule of trained
fine and outsider artists, it quickly became apparent we had too much
on our plate. Consequently, we decided to sever our active ties with some
folk artists (although, we still keep an inventory of their work.) Consequently,
we have settled down to representing the work of
Herbert Singleton,
Roy
Ferdinand,
Dr. Bob,
Al Taplet,
John Lawson,
Welmon Sharlehorn and
Gregory Kowlewski. We have also added Sharon Hardy and Roger Conners - two very
promising African American woodcarvers.
A personal note about the always touchy relationship
between a gallery and its artists: galleries deliberately contract their
artists to prevent them from selling outside the gallery. Barrister's
Gallery has never put an artist under contract; instead, we have the option
of choosing the best work of an artist for the Gallery's inventory --
the body of work of all artists, specially folk artists, is uneven; we
have, in most cases seen 100's of pieces of art from these artists and
there is no one better positioned to select those pieces which reflect
the inspiration which made those artists famous. We strive to represent
always the very best of an artist's work at the most responsible prices.
© Copyright 2000-2003
Barrister's Gallery
and Dr. Andy P. Antippas
For information send email to aantippas@aol.com
