Therapeutic appeal of outsider art

Ever buy a painting from a wild-eyed bum in a Chicago alleyway? If you have, then chances are you've purchased a piece of outsider art.\nIn its truest sense, the term "outsider art" is reserved for art produced by mental patients, social deviants and gorillas. The artistic expression of a troubled mind, such as that of Alexandre Lobanov, can be simultaneously striking and beautiful. Such raw and unsophisticated art can touch its audience at a primordial level while simultaneously providing the artist with a therapeutic connection to the outside world. \nThat's the ideal definition, but shopping online for outsider art is a whole different experience. Plenty of poseurs and amateurs employ the term on eBay as a way of hawking jumbled and incoherent pieces that they threw together within a matter of minutes. \nAs the Roadside Artist's Gallery's Web site (http://roadside.survivorart.com/articles.html) points out, "Online art auctions have become a popular place for bargain-hunters looking for art that has investment potential. But the honest emerging artists who offer their works for auction sometimes seem overwhelmed by assembly-line art knock-offs and unscrupulous sellers who prowl online auctions looking for victims." \nEven many supposed outsider art galleries feature traditional artists and amateurs shoehorned in or masquerading among the reclusive visionaries and the mentally disturbed. Jumbled among artists like Missionary Mary Proctor, who claims she was instructed by God to start painting, are supposed outsiders with far less prestigious credentials who toe their way shamelessly into the deviant category. \nAll in all, people lie on the Internet (as if you didn't know that) so caveat emptor lest your amazing outsider find turn out to be tepid garbage.\nStill, there are artists worth keeping an eye out for on your next eBay excursion. Paintings by Koopa, "the world's first internationally collected, professional turtle artist," are an affordable way of adding some reptilian Rembrandt to your home. Sold on eBay by user "turtlekissdesigns," they might not inspire awe in every observer, but they do make for good conversation pieces. \nBetter yet, 20 percent of the proceeds go to the Massachusetts Turtle Rescue. According to the organization's Web site, "The purchase of a Koopa painting will help many turtles in need of veterinary care." Koopa's art raised $3,099.78 for the organization in 2004. \nMy personal recommendation: Wesley Willis. Diagnosed with chronic paranoid schizophrenia, this 6-foot-5, 350-pound Chicago icon released more than 40 albums as a musician during his lifetime. Though not everyone understands the merit of his songs, which are about as redundant as the chorus of a Village People song looped on a Casio keyboard, there remains a certain underlying appeal to his discordant shouting and bafflingly hilarious lyrics. Here is true insanity and the head-butting embodiment of outsider art. \nYou can download MP3's of many of Willis' songs at www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php?band=wesleywillis, including "Rock n Roll McDonald's," "I Whipped Spiderman's Ass" and "My Mother Smokes Crack Rocks." The now-deceased singer's art can be found on his album covers and is available for sale on eBay. Like many departed artists, Willis' death and continuing subculture hero status will likely ensure the future worth of his art.