Singular Visions: Self-Taught Artists from the Permanent Collection
January 2 – April 20, 2024
Study Gallery and Print Study Center
Over the past two decades, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art has built a small but choice collection of work by self-taught artists. Organized by curator Jonathan Bucci and drawn exclusively from the HFMA permanent collection, the exhibition includes artists who are well known in the contemporary art world, such as James Castle, Louisiana Bendolph, and James Lavadour; important regional artists Gregory Blackstock and Russell Childers; and Midwest and Southern artists Burlon Craig and Royal Robertson among many others. In addition, new acquisitions by contemporary artists working with Living Studios, a Corvallis and Salem studio program for neurodivergent artists, are featured in the exhibition.
While the artists in Singular Visions each bring unique approaches and backgrounds to their work, there are universal traits they all share. The work operates as a reflection of the artists’ reality – the way they see the world, generated from both personal life experiences and the community in which they live and work. Artmaking is a form of communication as artists choose to express themselves and share their personal vision to connect with others.
As the cultural divisions that have led to the othering and separating of many self-taught artists and their work is dissolving, these important artistic voices and their influence are being brought into the larger conversation about contemporary art. The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is very pleased to present this first exhibition focused specifically on this growing area of the museum’s collection.
Jonathan Bucci
The John Olbrantz Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
Special thanks to Hallie Ford Museum of Art student research assistants Matthew Mahoney, WU class of 2024, and Emilee Cirbo, WU class of 2026
Exhibition Related Events
Members/VIP Opening Reception
Celebrating: Singular Visions: Self-Taught Artists from the Permanent Collection
Saturday, January 20, 2024
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Members and invited guests only
New Members are welcome to join at the event or online
ONLINE RSVP HERE BY January 13, 2024 (ACCEPTANCES ONLY)
Or by phone at 503-370-6855 or by email at museum-art@willamette.edu
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All-Abilities Art Workshop with Living Studios
Wednesday, February 28, 2023 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Maribeth Collins Lobby, Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Join us for the first of two all-abilities art workshop events at the museum featuring the work of Living Studios artists. Come for the full art making event or stop by to visit with the artists and learn more about Living Studios, a new arts program that offers support to members of Salem’s neurodivergent community through two essential platforms: a facilitated studio space and social advocacy projects, each enabling and inspiring creative and innovative community outcomes.
This workshop will be facilitated by Jill R Baker, artist-in-residence at Living Studios and art faculty at Linn-Benton Community College, and Salem-based artist, Paul Meuse. Meuse is represented by Salem on the Edge Fine Art Gallery, a Living Studios (Cornerstone Associates) partner organization for the event.
Living Studios, located at 155 N. Liberty St., Rm. 222, is a program of Cornerstone Associates, Corvallis, which is dedicated to empowering people with physical, intellectual or social barriers that can impact how they navigate their lives.
For more information contact Bruce Burris: bburris@cornerstoneassoc.org
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Lecture with Living Studios Director Bruce Burris And Participatory Performance with Pierre Pyke
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Roger Hull Lecture Hall | Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Please note that this was previously scheduled to take place at the Paulus Lecture Hall, Willamette University College of Law, 245 Winter St. SE
Free and open to the public
Artist, advocate, and Living Studios Director Bruce Burris will discuss his own work and his work with neurodivergent artists.
As part of the evening, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a participatory performance by Living Studios artist Pierre Pyke. Unfold Your Book, Hold Each Page is a group performance that follows a set of instructions originally enacted in the studio by the artist. Participants are invited to follow the process of Pierre’s daily art making practice. As someone who is mostly non-speaking, Pierre’s performance in movements and actions became his method of instructing others on his distinctive
creative rituals.
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All-Abilities Art Workshop with Living Studios
Saturday, March 2, 2023 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Maribeth Collins Lobby, Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Join us in the for the second all-abilities art workshop event at the museum featuring the work of Living Studios artists. Come for the full art making event or stop by to visit with the artists and learn more about Living Studios, a new arts program that offers support to members of Salem’s neurodivergent community through two essential platforms: a facilitated studio space and social advocacy projects, each enabling and inspiring creative and innovative community outcomes.
This workshop will be facilitated by Jill R Baker, artist-in-residence at Living Studios and art faculty at Linn-Benton Community College, and Salem-based artist Paul Meuse. Meuse is represented by Salem on the Edge Fine Art Gallery, a Living Studios (Cornerstone Associates) partner organization for the event.
Living Studios, located at 155 N. Liberty St., Rm. 222, is a program of Cornerstone Associates, in Corvallis, which is dedicated to empowering people with physical, intellectual, or social barriers that can impact how they navigate their lives.
For more information, contact Bruce Burris: bburris@cornerstoneassoc.org
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Tuesday Gallery Talks
These gallery talks focus on the Singular Visions exhibition and will take place during the following dates at 12:30 p.m., and are free and open to the public.
- March 5 | Docent guided
- March 12| Docent guided
- March 19 | Guided by Jonathan Bucci
- April 2 | Docent guided
- April 9 | Docent guided
- April 16 | Docent guided
Financial Support
Financial support for this exhibition has been supported with funds from the HFMA Exhibition Fund and the Maribeth Collins Art Exhibition Fund; by advertising support from The Oregonian/Here is Oregon; and by general operating support grants from the City of Salem's Transient Occupancy Tax funds and the Oregon Arts Commission.
