The Trust

The Art Extraordinary Trust was formed to serve a dual purpose, firstly, to enable the public to access and understand Art Extraordinary, and secondly, to encourage and support contemporary practitioners in this field, giving their work a public forum. Art Extraordinary is also known as 'Art Brut' or 'Outsider Art'. The collection includes a wide variety of works in various media, the earliest examples in the collection date back to the late 19th century while the collection continues to grow as the Trust adds new works from contemporary artists. The collection held by The Art Extraordinary Trust is unique in this country and regarded as internationally significant. Part of the collection is currently on loan to the prestigious Collection de l'Art Brut in Lausanne, Switzerland, from June 2007 to January 2008.

History

Scotland possesses a unique claim of interest in Art Extraordinary as one of the first collections of Outsider Art was established in the 19th century at Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries. Dr W.A.F.Browne introduced revolutionary methods of care, focussing on 'kindness and occupation'. He encouraged his patients to work in the hospital gardens, to edit a literary magazine, and to undertake many artistic pursuits. Before relinquishing his influential post Dr.Browne had complied three volumes of selected patients work with accompanying notes.

People

In the late 1970's Scotland once more began to assume a vital and influential role in the recognition of Art Extraordinary, Joyce Laing who was a pioneer in the field of art therapy, now director of The Art Extraordinary Trust, began searching Scotland for examples of this unique type of art. Having studied Fine Art at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, she initially worked with TB patients at the Deeside Sanatoria and became the first art therapist at The Ross Clinic. Wider recognition followed with the introduction of art to the revolutionary work of the Special Unit at Barlinnie High Security Prison in Glasgow. Throughout her career Joyce Laing has amassed an impressive and valuable collection of works which now form the basis of The Scottish Collection of Art Extraordinary.

Artists

Art Extraordinary refers to visual art forms created by artist, usually with no formal art education or training, whose works arise from an inner necessity impelled by intense personal vision. They paint, sculpt, weave, draw or build because they are obsessively engaged by a need to express this vision in a way which is unique to the individual and hence unconstrained by adherence to any artistic convention. As such, the works do not tend to be created for commercial gain. Except that they are thus compelled, visionary artists may often be ordinary people from all walks of life, although many are within the care of institutions or have become isolated on the margins of conventional society. Others may be elderly, disabled or have mental health issues.

Art Extraordinary is also known as Outsider Art, Art Brut, Visionary Art or Intuitive Art. Art Extraordinary is rare and cannot be compared to Folk art, Na?ve Art or any other amateur arts. Outsider Art was first identified and celebrated by Jean Dubuffet in the 1940's and this recognition has now grown to a worldwide scale with dedicated museums and galleries across the globe.

Art Therapy

Art Therapy is distinct from Art Extraordinary as it is a directed activity with a defined purpose. There are examples in the collection which are sourced from health institutions but these works have not been made during directed art therapy sessions.