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Faux Real: California Folk Art Activity at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art February 1 - 23, 2003 "Real" folk art is defined "as art produced by untutored rustics, true outsiders living on the fringes of society." Conversely, this exhibition catalog of "faux" folk art, was created by "art school graduates whose longing for a lost rawness is manifested in a referentially rough-edged look". This exhibition describes FAUX REAL as a conversation a discussion of the feasibility of "real fakes" in a society where traditionally educated artists often strive to obtain the naivete that naturally exists in "real" folk art. "The influence of the so-called 'outsider' is of tremendous relevance in our contemporary culture," says somebody important. "The outsider is 'in'." Artists in FAUX REAL include: Dave Ardito, Mike Fox, Fred Hayes, Robert Heckes, Rebecca Miller, Darrel Mortimer, Tucker Nichols, Guy Overfelt, Albert Reyes, Johanna St. Clair, Dave Warnke and LG Williams. Essays by Paul Karlstrom, LG Williams, Bonnie Clearwater, and Dr. Xie Zhao Ping. # # # # #