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In 1997, artist Candyce Brokaw established the survivors Art Foundation (SAF, survivorsartfoundation.org) after recovering from a traumatic event. Brokaw found tremendous relief through art and poetry, and believed that by creating this nonprofit organization she could help many others to move beyond their physical or mental disabilities. The foundation helps empower trauma survivors spanning physical and domestic violence, rape, war-related trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, AIDS, cancer, MS, mental illness, and other disabilities. It creates an atmosphere of acceptance via Internet art galleries, outreach programs, exhibits, and publications. Knowledge is power, Brokaw explains. “We trust that through educational awareness and outreach programs we will stop the cycle of abuse, particularly toward women and children.”
Throughout the month of February, SAF in collaboration with The Art Sites Gallery in Riverhead will be presenting an exhibit entitled “Nothing Is Black + White.” The artists featured include Brokaw, as well as Donna Balma, Jim Bloom, Ross Brodar, Paul Gasoi, Ann Grgich, Danielle Jacqui, John Levien, Mark May, Peter Marbury, Ody Saban, Gerard Sendrey, Cynthia Lund Torrell, and Uncle Frank Verni.
“The exhibit explores art created outside the mainstream by people for whom art is both a passion and a survival tool for dealing with life’s circumstances,” says Brokaw. Nonconventional in its approach, the exhibit is mainly comprises “outsider art”—also known as self-taught art. The artists, with little or no formal training, craft primarily through stream-of-consciousness techniques. In the 1920s, this method became popular among surrealists, and was coined “art brut,” or raw art, by the French pop artist Jean Dubuffet in 1948. In the mid 1900s, it was mainly limited to non-professionals working outside aesthetic norms, such as mental patients and prisoners. Today, outsider art lends itself to many different genres and is considered quite valuable.
A portion of the proceeds from the upcoming show, curated by Candyce Brokaw and Art Sites owner, Glynis Berry, will benefit SAF. As Brokaw emphatically describes the show, “It is a wild exhibition encompassing more than 600 works of art and sculpture from both Long Island artists and those around the world. It’s an installation that grabs your attention as you walk through the door.”
“Nothing is Black + White”
Art Sites Gallery, 651 West Main Street
(Route 25), Riverhead, NY
Gallery hours:
Thursday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Viewings by appointment February 4 to 17, 2008. For information and appointments, call (631) 591-2401 or (631) 653-4486
Michael Herships, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 09:13 AMGreat article, the exhibit was amazing.
Leslye Abbey, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:28 AMThe show is fantastic. More importantly Candyce Brokaw (a fabulous artist and visionary) has provided a venue for other very talented artists.
These exhibitions enrich the viewer through museum quality art and open a path for deeper meaning and shared humanity.
David Joel, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:20 AMNice article, shedding some light on a great show. At a time when art seems to be working harder to eliminate the finger print of authenticity, this show comes in tracking mud and hand prints all over the newly vacuumed white carpet of elitism and contrived anonymity; the stains, whether permanent or not, feel good, authentic, lived in and necessary. Good work.
Marietta Dantonio-Fryer, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 01:38 PMFor those who need more clarification, please describe the process of stream of consciousness
creating. Loved the article and love your work.
Candyce Brokaw, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 05:05 PM"Stream of consciousness drawing" is unplanned and spontaneous.I feel as if I am not thinking and my hand just moves.Sometimes I see something in the opposite empty space and then begin to draw or paint that and on and on and on!
Kristin Miller, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:01 AMThis show was absolutely amazing. The art is so raw enabling you to have true emotional experiences from the artists. Candyce has done a wonderful thing here.
Jennifer Ryan, Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 11:47 AMGreat article. Candyce your work (art & foundation) is inspirational. I really enjoyed this show and look forward to more and more from you!
Candyce Brokaw, Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 08:39 AMThank you so much for the positive feedback and support. Survivors Art Foundation has an amazing exhibit titled "Breaking the Walls of Bias: Art by Survivors", opening May 17th, at Galerie BelAge 8 Moniebogue Lane in Westhampton Beach. This amazing exhibit will have art from Holocaust survivors,native americans, a vaste spectrum of artists and an interesting outreach project we conducted with the Kosovo refugee children during the war at ft. Dix on display as well.Please put it n your calendars!!!
