I had never actually met Jennifer Gilbert until a few days ago. Which, since we’ve liaised about the artists she supports for the best part of a decade, is strange. We’ve spoken, swapped a myriad of emails about various projects and artists, but never met in person. I was determined to put that right and called into 53two in Manchester town centre to witness her installing another exhibition. 

 

The reasons for our previous virtual liaisons have been when I have written about what could be encompassed as ‘Outsider Art.’ The Tate defines outsider art as ‘having a naïve quality, often produced by people who have not trained as artists or worked within the conventional structures of art production.’ Now that doesn’t necessarily mean disabled, neurodivergent, deaf and under represented artists, but in the virtual connections that I have had with Jennifer over the years that is an inclusive group that she has fought to advocate for. 

 

Jennifer runs her own gallery – The Jennifer Lauren Gallery -  with that mission statement, but it seems that for whatever and wherever that mission statement surfaces, it includes her. For this exhibition she is liaising with the London based (though nationally spread) Arts and Health Hub. That hub professes ‘a place for artists exploring health and wellbeing to connect, learn and share.’ An inclusive hub that recognises the power of art that is at everybody’s fingertips whatever their circumstances. My own interest in outsider art is that it produces beautiful and intriguing work not restricted by conventional boundaries. Rather it is an expression of emotions and soul – always with a unique story in its making.

 

This short piece does not provide enough space to tell the stories of the five artists on show at 53two. This can be found on the Arts and Health Hub link below. But I’ll have a stab at brief synopses. 

 

I have written about Cara Macwilliam before; Cara explores her fascination with energy. This work is created by an artist with an energy limiting illness and represents what her illness has taken away – power, play, flow and movement. Barbara Hulme is a disabled artist who paints portraits of disabled people accompanied by their own words. Watercolours with the instinctive addition of gold ink have been exhibited for several years around the country. Kate Hughes likes to experiment and bring her degree and then masters in textile design, into free flowing immersion with the pleasure of creating. Following a career as an art teacher she co- founded Outside the Lines Community, promoting the belief that engaging in art can benefit everyone, regardless of ability. Ushiku Crisafulli is a multi talented, multidisciplinary artist…published writer…and chef! He expresses his art through comedy, hip hop, music, film making and other multivarious means. An ambassador of Disabled Artists Network Community, he will be performing at the launch of this exhibition and I for one am more than intrigued about that performance! Ghanaian born Andrew Kuwornu paints portraits and landscapes in watercolour and acrylics. He first began painting in 2022 as a therapy, evolving further into collage and textiles – surfaces which he hopes will engage viewers with the tactile qualities. Tactile qualities which are especially important to him with his own experience of glaucoma. 

 

The exhibition launches at 53two on Saturday May 24th. From 2 until 4pm and then through to June 22nd. At the launch each of the artists will be there to chat about their work and their pathways through recent months of growth and mutual encouragement, from and with the Support Hub. Jennifer Gilbert describes the work as a “Tool for wellbeing, connection and resilience.” It remains to be seen what the content of Ushiku’s live performance will be, but safe to say I’m intrigued!