Throughout school there were endless opportunities to talk about art. In studio critiques, advising professors challenged me to discuss my work's direction. Museum Studies, Art Forum and Art Criticism  placed me in direct contact with permanent collections, registrars, curators and art professionals. We critiqued exhibits and learned trade secrets about art fairs, collectives, portfolio presentation, IRS tax procedures and curating. I grew from these conversations and pined for access to an old-timey salon where artists and writers and scientists and basketball players and gardeners and critics and zookeepers and knitters could just sit around, drink coffee and discuss current events in the arts. But a collective dialogue takes effort and commitment and getting people together outside of a formal environment was challenging.

Having worked at the Sabatini Gallery for three and a half years, I sense a need for dialogue on a daily basis. Bringing a diverse selection of art and art programming to the Topeka community generates endless discussion between Gallery staff and our visitors. When an opportunity arises to exchange opinions and ideas, I find myself referencing articles, reviews and commentary from other discussions, and quite often pining (once again) for an informal salon where more than just myself and the lawyer, high school student, chef, 6th-grader, clergyman, artist or librarian could benefit from the discussion. I pine no longer. As of Thursday I've found a "salon".

Surrounded by collectors Dr. Robert Burns and his wife Pat, members of the Washburn academic community (Mulvane staff, History Professor Tom Prasch and Sociology Professor John Paul), local artists Barbara Waterman-Peters and former painting professor Ed Navone, a few students and regular people arrived intersted in sharing their ideas and hearing what others had to say in regards to the current exhibition, Embracing the Creative Spirit / Works by Self-Taught Artists, which runs through September 23.

For over an hour we spoke informally and the conversation took many turns and covered everything from what motivates artists to create and the labels we place on work we don't understand, to preserving cultural artifacts and collecting perspectives of individuals and institutions. My favorite part was having the interdisciplinary perspective of non-art professionals (both refreshing and beneficial in a community of regulars). I couldn't stop thinking of all the books and videos in our Library collection which would make an excellent extended reading list. I'll post this list here in comment form today or tomorrow.

If you're looking for a place to meet cool people and talk about cool stuff, I highly recommend attending these Conversations. They are offered with each Mulvane exhibit*. The next one is tomorrow night (Stories of Strawberry Hill in Color and Sound with special guests Marijana and Ed Grisnik, artist and musician from 5-6:30 in the Mulvane Art Museum) and another on Thursday, September 27. Same time, same place (Painting the Essence: Theatre Images by Barbara Waterman-Peters with Barbara as special guest).It's very important to have a place to share one's experiences without feeling intimidated or out of place and the Mulvane has succeeded in creating the right atmosphere for anyone, regardless of background or education, to participate comfortably or sit back and listen. Art is available almost everywhere and individual interaction satisfies most viewers. But for me,  it's the additional dialogue and shared perspective that makes me feel the most connected.

*...and they have cookies.

The self-taught artist / suggested reading and viewing:

759.13 IN
In the Realms of the Unreal: The Mystery of Henry Darger (DVD)

709.04 RHO
Outsider Art: Spontaneous alternatives by Colin Rhodes

709.04 REX
How to Look at Outsider Art by Lyle Rexter

709.77 STO
Sacred Spaces and Other Places:
A guide to grottos and sculptural environments in the Midwest by Lisa Stone

720.92 HER
A.G. Rizzoli: architect of magnificent visions by Joanne Farb Hernandez

745.5 NOR (teacher resource!)
Folk Art Projects Around the World by Jill Norris

745.0972 GRE
Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art by Harry N. Adams

745.5 PAN (teacher resource!)
American Folk Art for Kids with 21 Activities by Richard Panchyk

759.13 JOH
American Folk Art of the 20th Century by Jay Johnson

745.0973 PAT
Contemporary Folk Art:
Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum by Tom Patterson