August 31, 2005
Self-taught 'Ignorant art'
Local event celebrates artistic challenge
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Blending the hip with establishment, creativity and charity, the Ignorant Art Show showcased more than 100 original works of arts Saturday night.
Held in Building 50's renovated space above the restaurant Trattoria Stella, the event drew 300 plus attendees - most garbed in black as a sign of respect for the art. The show featured the work of 13 artists with media ranging from oils, acrylic and charcoal to photography, wood and mirrors.
Participants ranged from the never-before-had-a-piece-in-an-art-show to seasoned veterans. The common theme was that their artistic passion does not pay the bills. Rather, these artists - many not formally trained - immerse themselves in art on their own time, carving space for it in their lives around careers, family and other obligations.
Self-taught photographer Peter Young is a graphic artist by trade and owns his own business. He acknowledged that seeing his nature photography gracing the walls of the Ignorant Art show was a trip.
"I don't know quite what to make of it," said the Traverse City resident of his first show. "I have different things here, it was a process to choose. My theme was trying to show things you don't usually see."
As with the past two Ignorant Art shows, the event benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Traverse. Around 15 pieces sold, noted organizer Ryan Wells, and with 15 percent of each sale plus admission fees earmarked for the club, the show raised $6,000. This money will go into the Boys and Girls Club general operating fund.
The club has a mission to provide a safe, inspiring and enabling environment for young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances. For Wells, helping out is a cause close to his heart, in part because his sister, Meredith Wells Kerr, is the club's executive director.
This summer, 8 Boys and Girls Club members ranging in age from 6-15 crafted two paintings, "Fantasy" and "Reality." These pieces sold during the show for an estimated $1,000.
"Each put something into each piece," noted Christal Wilcox, director of operations for the Boys and Girls Club. "They are deep, 'Reality' has a car wreck, race issues, the burning twin towers, free puppies and free kittens."
Wells, a 1994 graduate of Traverse City Senior High, works in finance and property management. He has devotedly pursued his art while building a conventional career path, creating the Ignorant Art show two years ago to provide a non-traditional venue for other artists as well as consumers.
A painter who favors abstract expressionism in his own work, Wells talks with and juries all the artists in his shows. He noted that he favors abstraction impressionist, surrealism and symbolism - pieces where you can see the artist and emotion in the work.
"Basically, I'm just looking for people who are driven, very passionate about their work," said Wells. "It's the difference between aesthetically pleasing art and stuff that kind of gets you going - either inspires or shocks. I want people to leave from the show inspired or a little bit confused or drawn in a little bit."
Wells is determined that each Ignorant Art show stand alone; he does not guarantee another one at any specific time or even at all. As he builds to another show, he finds artists through announcements in the media, inviting them to call him and talk.
"The original concept of the show is that it's not a semi-annual or an annual show, each show is it's own individual show and there might not be another one," he said. "That being said, I like to get all the artists together and then find a location. I'll start interviewing right away for another one."
Ryan Wells welcomes calls from other area artists interested in a future Ignorant Art show; he can be reached at 218-9584.