The Colorful Apocalypse: Journeys in Outsider Art

by Greg Bottoms

The Reverend Howard Finster was twenty feet tall, suspended in darkness. Or so he appeared in the documentary film that introduced a teenaged Greg Bottoms to the renowned outsider artist whose death would help inspire him, fourteen years later, to travel the country. Beginning in Georgia with a trip to Finster’s famous Paradise Gardens, his journey—of which The Colorful Apocalypse is a masterly chronicle—is an unparalleled look into the lives and visionary works of some of Finster’s the self-taught evangelical artists whose beliefs and oeuvres occupy the gray area between madness and Christian ecstasy.

With his prodigious gift for conversation and quietly observant storytelling, Bottoms draws us into the worlds of such figures as William Thomas Thompson, a handicapped ex-millionaire who painted a 300-foot version of the book of Revelation; Norbert Kox, an ex-member of the Outlaws biker gang who now lives as a recluse in rural Wisconsin and paints apocalyptic visual parables; and Myrtice West, who began painting to express the revelatory visions she had after her daughter was brutally murdered. These artists’ works are as wildly varied as their life stories, but without sensationalizing or patronizing them, Bottoms—one of today’s finest young writers—gets at the heart of what they have in the struggle to make sense, through art, of their difficult personal histories.

In doing so, he weaves a true narrative as powerful as the art of its subjects, a work that is at once an enthralling travelogue, a series of revealing biographical portraits, and a profound meditation on the chaos of despair and the ways in which creativity can help order our lives.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2007

Reviews

[Cindy C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were really interesting but overall I found it somewhat limited focusing only on 3 artists, all of which were religious fanatics. While I appreciate that religion is one source of inspiration for outsider artists, there is a much more comprehensive range of creativity, and influence that could have been covered, and I think the author would have had more fun guiding his journey this way. I felt like a lot of the narrative was somewhat unnecessary so I became disinterested in parts. Some parts were really intriguing. The writing style was decent except when written in interview style. I don't like interview style when I am reading a book. It feels abrupt to suddenly have to read text as a script.

[Kilean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book about outsider folk art by one of my favorite writers. Excellent prose, he's got a brother in a mental institution (wrote a memoir about that too, called Angelhead) and that is one of his many reasons for being drawn to the crazed artists that populate this superb book.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a rare mixture of solid scholarship, cultural theory, ethnography, and autobiography, with an equally unusual compassion for the outsider artists he interviewed and for himself.

I have had a longtime interest in "Outsider Art" and also emerged personally from Christian fundamentalism, so I appreciate Bottoms' solid understanding of the theological and social underpinnings of these artists. Additionally, Bottoms' journey to understanding his own family's experience with his schizophrenic brother as a lens for questioning assumptions about outsider art was fascinating and thoughtful (I too have a schizophrenic step-sibling).

While those interested in cultural theory will appreciate the intellectual constructs he provides, this book is also very readable for any college-educated person interested in outsider art.

[Joseph M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned about a very strange type of art, but I also read some pretty profound passages, even if some of the events and extremely hateful "viewpoints" of the people in this book make me feel pretty down.
I harbor I great respect for these artists just for finding a way to release their anguish and make it intelligible somehow, to give it some kind of profound meaning, whether in art or religion.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short history of outsider art with emphasis of art of madness and its intersection with Christian religion, primarily in the south. Based on interviews. Profiles three artists: Howard Finster, William Thomas Thompson and Norbert Cox.

[Robert Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this travelogue documenting the author's visits to various outsider artists in the deep south of the USA. Its a book about trying to write a book; intimate in the way the author interrogates his own motivations, prejudices and personal history as he goes along. Obviously its just screaming out for reproductions of examples of each artist's work, but its so chock-full of references to other books and websites on the subject it provides many lines for further enquiry by those interested in these artists and their work.

[Brock Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Greg Bottoms is a superb storyteller. This is a wonderful quick book on some outsider artists.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottoms writes about a subject I love -- outsider art -- but rather than give an aloof, academic treatment of the subject, he writes in an offbeat, personal way about several outsider artists he sets out to meet on a road trip, most notable the Rev. Howard Finster from Georgia. One is unsure if the artists he meets are indeed artists, or prophets, or all just damn crazy. I liked reading about the Finster clan and Finster's homemade Disneyland in Summerville, Georgia called Paradise Gardens dedicated to Jesus, fire-and brimstone, the impending apocalypse and the like. But his portrayal of South Carolina painter William Thompson was nothing short of scary. Thompson was far more fanatical and judgmental than Finster; basically I thought he as just plain mean, and his art not nearly as interesting in aesthetic terms. Both Finster and Thompson have attracted a universal following with their highly unconventional, visionary style, though their messages are off-putting to many, including myself (a former Southern Baptist), and many aficionados of Art Brut and outsider art have travelled to their hometowns to admire their work. I will on my next trip south.

What I really liked a lot about this book was Bottoms style: terse, salty, and sometimes so lyrical you wanted to read a novel by him (and I researched if he had written any, and sadly, he hasn't).

Outsider art, or Art Brut (the term coined by the great French master Jean Dubbufet who first collected this sort of work by visiting mental institutions all over Europe) , is a wide and penetrating subject. If you love art as much as I do, you will find all books on the subject, academic or personal, deeply rewarding. I come away thinking that all great artists are at first outsider artists, then after they become established, they lose this quality, sadly. Outsider artists seem to stay, well, outsiders, and there is some real shining greatness in that -- they never bend to standards kept alive by art societies, collectors, salons, and worse, museums, schools and galleries. Outsider artists are the most anti-conceptual artists of all, and thank God for that. They are also the least known. They do what they do in isolation, without a care in the world for "good" art, and this protects them from all mediocrity. They are all mad, but they are not so much artists who are willing to pay the price like many conventional (and self-absorbed)artists are, as they are men and women who do their art simply because they cannot help themselves.

[Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it made me read other books. I understand keeping the cast of characters limited to better see them, but why not put in more illustrations? It's abook about art, after all. Also, I think I've had enough of pensive authors making their own journey of discovery as sub-plot.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a really interesting stance on effects of mental illness, religious fanaticism, Christian fundamentalism on the world of Outsider art. It is incredible and well written, often taking from the authors personal experience.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written book on an incredibly fascinating topic. I only gave it 4 stars because I feel like the author is only scratching the surface of a broad and complex topic that is worthy of much deeper exploration.

[Myersorchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

outsider art consist of paintings, sculptures, and ,sometimes, performance dealing with religion and end times. the author interviews 3 artists who are definitely unbalanced. the author has gotten into this because of his schizophrenic brother.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian schizophrenic outsider art roadtrip written by an English professor with schizophrenia in the family-- half profile pieces, half personal essays

[Arwen Downs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is an informative and entertaining study of Outsider Art, what I really wanted was a book about Henry Darger.

Oh well - win some, lose some.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"People do not live their biographies."

"Our grounds for Faith: the unhappiness of man. Our grounds for skepticism: the same."

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's just say this wasn't all that colorful.