American Visionary Art Museum |
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| 800 Key Highway | |
| Baltimore, MD 21230 | |
| 410-244-1900 | |
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Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday: Closed Sideshow, the museum's giftshop, has the same hours as above. | |
| What's nearby: | |
This is not your father's museum. It's the outsider, non-traditional, contemporary-visionary, self-taught, treasure troving, self-loathing, articulation of hopes and losses whirlwind of a museum. Bringing new meaning to the idea of the tortured artist, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) has been designated by Congress as America's national museum and educational center for self-taught art. The AVAM's working philosophy is that while anyone can create art, only a small reserve of those creators are visionary. Many of the self-taught artists are farmers and other rural inhabitants who choose not to mix much with society. Painting is a part of the self-taught artist's medium, but many use materials such as matches, glue, paper plates, crayons, metals, machinery parts and even unraveled thread from wash cloths. Nellie Mae Rowe, a visionary artist whose work is on display in the AVAM's permanent exhibit, wrote: "I draw what is in my mind, I draw things you haven't seen born into this world." As her statement suggests, twisted devils and demons abound in the works on the AVAM walls, as do God and angels.
Sure, some of the work leaves you to wonder why it's on a wall in a museum, but most creations incorporate such intricate detail that viewers stare in awe. One of my favorites, housed in the permanent collection, is a jacket titled "Myrellen's Coat." Myrellen used bed sheets and threads from rags to embroider while she was institutionalized. The stitches tell her life story, visually and verbally. Years later, Myrellen received new drug treatments and electro-convulsive therapy and denied she had ever constructed the garment. The history behind each warped creation compels viewers just as equally as the work of art.
The AVAM's founder Rebecca Hoffberger first dreamed of opening this mix-n-match grab bag of art when she visited Switzerland's Art Brut Museum, which was committed to exhibiting self-taught and outsider art. The AVAM took 10 years to plan, six years to raise funds and two years to construct the building and clean the surrounding area. The City of Baltimore donated land, and the museum opened in November of 1995.
Just minutes from the Inner Harbor, the AVAM provides an interesting alternative to the standard tourist attractions and museums in the area. Seven galleries, a sculpture barn, a wild flower garden and a wacky (and at times, overpriced) gift shop promise family fun for all. --Karen Keys
Sure, some of the work leaves you to wonder why it's on a wall in a museum, but most creations incorporate such intricate detail that viewers stare in awe. One of my favorites, housed in the permanent collection, is a jacket titled "Myrellen's Coat." Myrellen used bed sheets and threads from rags to embroider while she was institutionalized. The stitches tell her life story, visually and verbally. Years later, Myrellen received new drug treatments and electro-convulsive therapy and denied she had ever constructed the garment. The history behind each warped creation compels viewers just as equally as the work of art.
The AVAM's founder Rebecca Hoffberger first dreamed of opening this mix-n-match grab bag of art when she visited Switzerland's Art Brut Museum, which was committed to exhibiting self-taught and outsider art. The AVAM took 10 years to plan, six years to raise funds and two years to construct the building and clean the surrounding area. The City of Baltimore donated land, and the museum opened in November of 1995.
Just minutes from the Inner Harbor, the AVAM provides an interesting alternative to the standard tourist attractions and museums in the area. Seven galleries, a sculpture barn, a wild flower garden and a wacky (and at times, overpriced) gift shop promise family fun for all. --Karen Keys
