We have spent Monday evenings of the past six weeks at the Tate Modern attending a series of lectures on Outsider Art. The Tate Modern is fabulously accessible although I am not sure I can go forwards down the long slope at the main entrance with my eyes open – I have done it with my eyes shut whilst gripping my wheelchair desperately! Other than this, great access and facilities including car parking if done in advance.
Everything is pretty much shut for the after-hours lecture series although they do keep one café open for coffee or a quick drink afterwards. As ever, we have had trouble making it for 6.30pm (lecture ends at 8pm) but we have been there or thereabouts, our mad dash helped by the pre-booked a car park space.
I have been interested in Outsider art for a long time, subscribing to Raw Vision, seeing exhibitions where possible – the Whitechapel is good for these – and searching the internet – the Henry Boxer gallery is worth a look. The lectures, at Tate Modern. were given by Colin Rhodes. He is a college lecturer who has written a book or two on this, including, Outsider Art: Spontaneous Alternatives. The format is lecture with slides and notes, plus visits to a couple of the Tate’s rooms where appropriate. There is also an Outsider Art room at Tate Britain that he recommended as being worth a visit.
The whole series was a really interesting, if undemanding, way to learn more about this subject. I love that the Tate’s offer this kind of opportunity, at such reasonable prices, to expand awareness of less well known art.
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