Jim and Beth Arient, Chicago - MEET THE COLLECTOR Series Part Sixteen
I was told Jim and Beth Arient had one of the foremost collections of of 20th Century American Folk Art in the United States, so of course I needed to interview them for my Meet the Collector series. I met Beth a couple of years ago at the Outsider Art Fair in New York so this was a nice reminder too of that meeting! Their story of meeting the artists face-to-face and directly buying from them is quite a unique one in this day and age and it makes for interesting reading.
Jim and Beth Arient at home, 2020. Photo: Matt Arient
1. When did your interest in the field of outsider/folk art begin? When did you become collectors of this art? How many pieces do you think are in your collection now?
Our circuitous path to self taught art started with earlier collecting experiences. In 1971, beginning with 20th century contemporary art, Beth and I spent our time in museums and galleries attempting to develop our collecting eye. We came upon Canadian Inuit sculpture on a vacation to Calgary. Now we had two areas of art to study: compatible but most definitely different. Little did we realize that an art book from our local library would change our lives in such a startling manner. In 1977, Beth brought home “Twentieth Century American Folk Art and Artists” by Hemphill and Weisman. Filled with wondrous images, we were taken by the power and creativity these works possessed. We decided we would try to meet the artists whose artwork attracted us the most. After a little detective work, we were off on road trips throughout the country. Visiting dozens of artists, many on a regular basis, we established relationships with them that continued on for many years. Rural, urban, male, female, afro american, white - each had a personal vision and the inner need to create. All were genuinely surprised and amazed that we would take the time and effort to seek them out. Many times we heard “I didn’t know I was an artist until someone told me.” Putting 15,000 miles on each of two cars, our collecting trips became an integral part of our lives.
2. What style of work, if any, is of particular interest to you within this field? (for example is it embroidery, drawing, sculpture, and so on)
Our collection encompasses all styles of work - the power of the individual piece is what is most important to us. We have paintings, drawings, carvings, textiles, canes, found objects and just about everything else that makes up the wondrous field of self taught art.
Jim and Beth with Elijah Pierce and his wife, circa 1980
3. Would you say you had a favourite artist or piece of work within your collection? And why?
With over 2,000 pieces and over 100 artists represented, it is impossible to pick a piece let alone an artist. We spent hundreds of hours over the years visiting with Howard Finster and William Dawson - they would be towards the top of the list if we had to choose. Our close friendships with Elijah Pierce, James “Son Ford” Thomas, the Kinneys, Lanier Meaders, S.L. Jones, and so many others were all very important to us.
4. Is there an exhibition in this field of art that you have felt has been particularly important? And why?
The Corcoran Gallery’s seminal show, ‘Black Folk Art in America 1930-1980’, was to us the game changer. Here was a major U.S. museum presenting a show 100% dedicated to a group of artists creating work that until then had been flying very low under the radar. There had been shows at smaller museums and art centers previously, but none with the gravitas of a major art institution. This show gave courage to other institutions to to take self taught art more seriously. Obviously, looking back over the past 38 years, it worked. There are now non-stop shows around the world highlighting the field.
Jim with Jesse Howard, circa 1978
5. Where would you say you buy most of your work from: a studio, art fairs, exhibitions, auctions, or direct from artists? And do you exhibit any of it on the walls of your home?
Most of our collection was built buying directly from the artists on our 20 plus year adventure, traveling throughout the country and visiting each of them. Some artists we only visited once, others many times. The bulk of our collecting took place between 1977 and 2000. It slowed subsequent to 2000, sadly because most of the first generation artists had passed away by then.
We have always visited flea markets from day one and continue to do that as recently as eight weeks ago. Locally, the markets are seasonal and thus closed for the winter. We will be up at dawn on 4/5/2020 for another season of treasure hunting.
We also enjoy frequenting the biannual Slotin auction held in Buford Georgia. We have been to 28 so far and counting. These are always an adventure and a chance to meet fellow collectors and see hundreds of examples of work for sale. Steve and Amy always make their attendees feel welcome.
6. You have exhibited your collection a few times in America – have you ever shown the whole collection or just aspects of it? And if you haven’t, is this something you would consider if the right offer came along?
We have had seven shows based on our collection. The largest was in 2004 at DePauw University where 200 pieces were exhibited as the inaugural show at their new gallery. We also did a show featuring the quilts of Sarah Mary Taylor - Mississippi’s premier quilter. Another showcased the works of four Chicago artists and friends - William Dawson, Wesley Willis, Derek Webster, and Lee Godie. The other four shows featured a broad selection of work from our collection. We have always been active lenders to dozens of various group shows. For instance, we lent 99 pieces to Halle St. Pierre for their 1998 show - “Outsider Art from Chicago Collections”. Approximately one half of the work in the monumental Howard Finster retrospective “Stranger in Paradise” was from our collection. We will be lending five Howard Finster paintings to the Dr. Guislain Museum in Ghent for a show curated by Pierre Muyelle. We are always glad to see American masters being shown in Europe.
Howard Finster “Jim and Beth Arient, #2015”, 1983. This piece was a Christmas gift from Howard. Photo: Jim Prinz
7. Have you got any future plans for the collection?
Our son Matt went on his first collecting trip to see Howard Finster when he was three months old. Over the next 18 years, most vacations revolved around collecting. He was well steeped in self taught art and artists at a young age. Something must have clicked because he has been a Past-President and Exhibitions Chair at Intuit, Chicago’s world class organization promoting interest in self taught art. He has curated several shows himself, including one at the Mad Musee in Liege, Belgium. He will be the best possible caretaker of our collection and take it forward into the future.
8. I have read that a lot of your work is hung in your home – do you ever give tours of this to external people?
Our house was built in 1985 and it has high ceilings and large expanses of white wall so it is the perfect setting for the collection. There is art everywhere and floor to ceiling shelves in the living room are covered with masterpieces of 20th century American folk art.
At any one time, about one half of the collection is out for viewing. Our home was designed to be both an interesting living space and a place to display the collection. With high ceilings, white walls, and track lighting it does resemble a gallery space while still being a welcoming environment to live in. Art is everywhere, including a floor to ceiling shelving unit covered with Finster boxes, Sultan Rogers haints, and William Dawson figures. We have had visitors from Japan, France, and Austria along with many collector groups, American museums leaders, collectors, and dealers. As all collectors can relate, sharing a collection and its many stories with like minded fanatics is one of the joys of collecting.
9. Have you managed to persuade many friends to become interested in this field and what do you think of it?
We long ago decided not to try and impose our interests on anyone, whether it be art, travel, or wine unless they asked. If they did, then we were all in as a resource, willing to help in anyway possible.
Beth and Bessie Harvey, 1988. Photo: Jim Arient
10. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Our 40 plus year love affair with self taught art has been one of the great pleasures of our life. To visit over 90 artists and live with their creations is a life affirming event every day. The friendships with collectors we have made and maintained over decades is another priceless benefit. One wish for the future is that many more artists will get recognised through articles and shows featuring their creations. I recently wrote an article for Raw Vision on Raymond Coins from North Carolina - an artist that in my opinion deserves more attention. Ditto for Georgia Blizzard, Herbert Singleton, the Kinneys, and many others. They all had something to say with their work and deserve a chance to show that to the world.
Howard Finster’s that were loaned to the Raw Vision 25 year Anniversary Show in 2013 at the Halle Saint Pierre, Paris