137AC is a group of outsider, self taught artists consisting of painters, sculptors, writers, photographers and film makers. Our goal is to develop our talent to a professional level outside of sheltered workshops. We want to shape a rotating collaborative space where our ideas can materialize and reach the public.
We are starting out small in a building already engaged in creative activities, including theater, hackers, beekeepers, up-cyclers, scientific research and roof gardening. There is opportunity to expand our space and welcome new members to our original group of 10 artists.
As a collective we will support and challenge each other to explore our creativity to its limits. We intend to reach out to established artists for critique and collaborations. In 2012 we were invited to collaborate with Bjarne Melgaard (a successful Norwegian-born artist) and wish to expand on that successful experience.
137AC is a studio space that seeks to support independent outsider artists with a history of behavioral health issues. This studio seeks to differentiate itself from the traditional institutional, or workshop based, model in that it identifies and supports those artists who wish to pursue their own work and their desire to introduce their work to the mainstream contemporary art world. We will invite other outsider artists and established artists to produce collaborative works. We intend to document our progress to inspire and teach other outsider artists to develop their talent to a professional level.