Among contemporary primitive, outsider, or folk artists there is a new movement forming. We are calling it the Who-Ha Da-Da Fellowship. It represents the next wave of outsider artists dedicated to the genera whose profiles have evolved beyond the traditional.
According to co-founder Paul Flack, "In art history, we will be viewed in the same context as the "British Invasion" of the 60's was to Blues music. For the most part, we are not old, poor, uneducated or dead. We all have television and automobiles and have at least one foot in the global village. Yet, we are carrying out the traditions set forth by the pioneers of contemporary folk art movement. We are dedicated to the extremely accessible and affordable, highly creative, somewhat spiritual, often tongue-in-cheek visual art form."
The contemporary folk art movement characterized by the works of Finster, R.A. Miller, Jimmy Lee Sudduth and others has recently become popular among collectors and with a variety of themed festivals throughout the country. As it gained popularity, the genre soon attracted the next generation of artists whose profiles are very different than their predecessors.
Many are young or "younger," some with formal art training advanced educations. However, they are all committed to the "spirit" of the folk art movement. The work is counter-cultural; often gut wrenching from the heart, visual expression.
According to co-founder Willie Willie, "We have decided to choose a name before we were hung with one. By calling ourselves the Who-Ha Da-Da-ists, we hope to avoid the confusion that has led to terms like Faux Art and Brute Art. As a group, we found ourselves at the beginning a new era in the history of visual arts and decided to do something about it. It is our hope to be acknowledged as a legitimate group and experience the benefits of being dynamically linked to what we believe is a new era in the visual arts."
The group hopes to become a resource for information on contemporary primitive art. It also hopes to benefit members by formalizing channels of communication, sharing information and creating credence for folk art collector, fans and enthusiasts.
An independent video has been produced and is in limited circulation. Called Who-Ha Da-Da, exploring the past and present of the "outsider" art movement and features many of the members of Who-Ha Da-Da.

Go back