Ecker Center for Mental Health will host an Outsider Art Show and Sale from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Elgin Artspace Lofts, 51 S. Spring in Elgin. The event will feature pieces created by current and former Ecker Center clients.

“We will be showcasing works ranging from very primitive pieces to extraordinary artistic renderings priced from $1 to $3,000,” said Kay Catlin, events manager for Ecker Center.

“A wide variety of genres are represented including everything from jewelry and embroidery to stained glass, painting and poetry.”

As generally defined, Outsider Art is art by self-taught or naïve art makers. Typically those labeled outside artists have little or no contact with the mainstream art world or art institutions. Often, outsider art illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or celebrate elaborate fantasy worlds.

“Aside from the opportunity to view and purchase these works of art, the collection as a whole represents an extraordinary look into the hearts and minds of those with mental illness,” Catlin said.  “As history has proven, many of our most accomplished and acclaimed artists, authors and musicians have had — and battled — these same underlying issues.”

Ecker Center will also be introducing its 2019 calendar at the art show. As in the past, each month will feature photography highlighting a specific Kane County location.

Proceeds will benefit Ecker Center’s adult and children’s services. For more information about available mental health services, go to www.eckercenter.org.

The event is free of charge and open to the public. There will be a free wine and cheese reception to honor the participating artists, many of whom will be on hand to discuss their work.

For more information, call 847-695-0484, Ext. 1913.

SOURCE: Ecker Center news release