Welcome to the first post in our Thoughtful Thursday series! While many of us are spending most of our time indoors and keeping safe during the global pandemic, we here on the RAL team have been looking for ways to stay inspired. Every Thursday starting today, we will be sharing a bit of what has been inspiring us lately. Want to share something that’s been inspiring you? Email us at ral@artandwriting.org!

Explore Intuitive and Outsider Art from home with Intuit

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
756 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642

What is Intuit?

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art is one of the premier museums in the world dedicated to presenting outsider and self-taught art, defined as the work of artists who demonstrate little influence from the mainstream art world and who are instead motivated by their unique personal visions. The museum’s mission—celebrating the power of outsider art—is grounded in the ethos that the instinct to create is universal and the arts must embrace, represent and be accessible to all, regardless of education level or socioeconomic status. Founded in 1991, the museum’s exhibitions, collection (including the Henry Darger Room Collection), and archival resources are world-renowned, and its teacher and student education programs have won numerous awards. Each year, the museum’s exhibitions, events, programs, website, and social media reach an audience of more than 200,000 art enthusiasts, teachers, and students.

Check out Intuit’s Digital Resources!

Intuit’s new blog, Get Intuit, is a one stop shop for intuitive and outsider art educational resources. Over the years, Intuit has developed teacher curriculum that is being transitioned to the blog in a way that is more easily accessible for learning outside the classroom. Click here to view Get Intuit now and start exploring!

Looking for more? Check out the Henry Darger Resource Kit for educators to find activities and information for newcomers to the world of outsider art. Biweekly, Intuit will be hosting their free drop-in art making series, Art After Work online via Zoom. Drop-in at the next event for inspiration to create your next (or first!) piece of homemade art!

Follow Intuit on Facebook and Instagram for content focused on sharing artwork and stories of self-taught and outsider artists. Intuit aims to be a place of respite during this time of incredible hardship.

Intuit & the Scholastic Awards

For the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Intuit’s Young Professionals Board joined the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers as a first-time adjudication partner for RAL art submissions. Located in Chicago (currently part of our Midwest RAL Art region!), the Young Professionals Board adjudicated works from students in RAL regions across the country and internationally.

Intuit’s Young Professionals Board was started in 2018 and currently has 21 members. These Intuit ambassadors spread awareness about the outsider art genre through the museum’s platform. Members bring together supporters of self-taught and outsider art by engaging contemporary artists of all backgrounds with Intuit’s programming; promoting passion and encouraging dialogue between champions of outsider art through inter-generational networking opportunities; and supporting Intuit’s programming and exhibitions through fundraising initiatives. Intuit chose to get involved with the Scholastic Awards because its Young Professionals Board is passionate about art, youth, and engaging in conversations together about art.

Intuit’s ethos is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of social, cultural, and economic background; developmental or physical ability; or technical skill, has a unique vision and the innate creative ability to experience creativity and make art. Examples of the ways Intuit has implemented these initiatives include the Teacher Fellowship Program, which provides Chicago Public School teachers with a unique professional development training while empowering students to express their artistic ideas in a non-judgmental context. And the summer IntuiTeens Youth Program, which builds confidence and creativity skills in Chicago Public School high school students through learning about outsider art and implementing their own art-making workshops in youth-facing spaces around the city.

Intuit is located in Chicago’s West Town, just off the Chicago Blue Line CTA stop. Visit Intuit to experience exhibitions that showcase the incredible power of outsider and self-taught art. Intuit is currently closed due to COVID-19, but keep an eye on their website to plan your visit in the future!

Have something thoughtful to share?

Email us at ral@artandwriting.org to share your inspiration. We want to hear from you! #thoughtfulthursday