So we are back at the Judith Rock Gallery and it's time again for the outsiders outside Art fair.

And Judith, thank you so much for having us.

Thank you for coming.

So this is the first time we've been here where the tents are set up.

They're waiting on the artists and vendors to come and bring their work, and it must be exciting getting ready for another show.

Well, you know, last year was supposed to be the last year, so the only reason I did it this year is because a young man called me and said, we want to be in the cider show.

And I said, I'm sorry, but we're not doing it anymore.

And he was so deflated and he said, well, we do come and look at our art.

So I said, sure.

So the next day I drove to South Bend and I went to this awful looking broken down motel and was looking for the guy who called me.

And all these people came out from the motel and said, oh, he was in the office.

And they all they all directed me, not just one of them, the all director.

So we went to the office and it was empty.

And I think you've been around him before and anyway, and I just listened to these people in there and looked at the art and thought, I can't not do it.

I just can't not.

They needed that little boost of being successful, and they were all so enthusiastic.

And so I said to to empty, well, if you'll help me, I'll do it.

So then my community of people out here who are so great.

Oh, my customers said we'll volunteer to help because they wanted the show anyway.

Anyway, they could get it.

So I said, all right.

So I had volunteers and somebody did the card.

And somebody is, you know, got all the people together to take the money out in front.

So all the bases were covered mostly, so I didn't have to do so much.

This Parkinson thing is not easy.

So anyway, Patrick always takes me to buy my inventory if there's an auction or something around.

And Caroline is my was my customer and my friend and she said, well, I'll help.

And Caroline, nobody can say no to her because she's just so full of energy.

And you just like her so much.

So I decided, all right, we'll do it.

So that's how we got where we are.

And here we are again.

Kelsey.

Right.

After all these years.

And it'll be here real soon.

And MT has been doing art classes at motels for now.

And, and then they teaching right.

And teaching those.

And he's a graduate of Notre Dame I believe.

Yes.

And they had an art show last year showing off the work of these people who are dealing with homelessness and other things like that.

And it was the opportunity for them to express themselves.

And that really kind of plays into what you have always done here with the outsiders Art outside Art fair, where you give people who aren't necessarily classically trained a chance to show their work and their voice.

And just because you haven't gone through a fancy school doesn't mean you don't know how to express yourself through art and that you're not talented, right?

Because these people are very talented, as you'll see in looking around the gallery.

And they're do they make up all of the show or part of the show, know pretty much all of the show.

Although downstairs, I used to work for John Wilson, who was the Lakeside studio and started Chicago Art Expo, and he would have professors and things come and do prints at the at the hotel here.

And I picked up all those.

So those are downstairs.

Okay.

So very good.

Yeah.

Well it's it's in the process of getting set up.

We're getting closer and closer all the time.

What are you looking forward to the most this time?

The end.

That's good.

No, no, I'm looking forward to all the people coming because so many people have called me and said, I'm so glad you're doing this.

Oh, we wouldn't know what to do with Labor Day, but you didn't have your fair.

Yeah.

Everybody seems to really like it.

And, you know, I'm the young youngest in my family, and the youngest always wants to please, I guess.

So.

I like pleasing people, and they seem to be pleased and happy when we do this show.

It's like their end of season party.

One of the things I told you off camera was that you're kind of the head of the curve on things, and so things have happened and trends have happened after you had seen it.

And the outsider Art fair is is one of those things.

And I love the fact that you are very intentional about giving them not only an opportunity to share their work, but quite often an opportunity to talk to the patrons.

Right?

And so it's different when you get to meet the artist and hear their story and understand the emotion behind their work, and you've provided a space for that for a long time.

I think it's very important that people get to talk to artists, because artists live a different five, 9 to 5 life, you know, and they don't live in 9 to 5 life.

They live in all the time, artistic life.

So many of the people here, so many of the people make their living just by their art.

They don't have second job.

And it's amazing.

Like you met Floyd Gump the last time you were here.

He and his wife, Linda Hofheinz, they're both artists and they really go to their house and they just love and live their art, and it's really incredible.

And it makes you really appreciate those people because they they persevere no matter what, you know, they just keep on going.

So I think, I think it's important to look at people in all walks of life, not just artists, but it makes you appreciate people so much more, and especially when you see people who are working so hard and they're so passionate about what they do.

So this takes place over a couple of days.

In the past, you've always had music and food.

Is that the case as well?

Again, yes, we have food and music.

We have a food truck that's from Watervliet and they serve Mexican food.

And we had story and zinc, and we've had them before too.

And we like their music, and they're not so loud that you can't talk to your customer, which somebody reminded me of.

That's important.

That's important.

Well, thank you so much for doing this.

It's always a pleasure to get to talk to you beforehand, and I love that you have a heart for it, to the point where you weren't going to do this show, but you are to benefit others, and that's really what you've done.

All of your career is benefit others through the way that you've shown their work.

Is in that the reason we're put on this earth for.

So yeah, I think so too, I think so.

So we're going to talk to a couple other people who are helping to make sure this show happens, like my major volunteers here.

So she'll come and talk to you.

Very good.

Generally because I like to think that a person can take a piece of art that's abstract and put it any orientation that they would like.

So this piece doesn't necessarily need to go this way.

It could go this way if it fit better or you like the look of it better that way.

This one is, well, purely abstract, although there's a little bit of figurative in here in the sense that many people have said that kind of looks like an angel.

A couple wings ahead, a body.

These obviously are portraits.

So I wouldn't, you know, if I did sign them, I'd sign them here.

But that's why I don't sign them on the front.

I always sign them on the back and then put the title on the back.

So you really I mean, this may have been something that spoke to you, but you're going to allow the person who buys it absolutely to let it speak to them in whatever way that happens.

Absolutely.

It's funny, oftentimes I'll make a piece and I'll, you know, it's on the easel.

I'm doing the whole thing.

Two months go by, I'm completing it.

And then when I hang it, I like to hang it in my house to see how it looks on the wall.

And there won't be room to hang it in the orientation that I created it with.

So I'll put it this way and think, wow, it looks so much better, you know what I mean?

And then it becomes a piece of art that hangs that way.

Okay, good.

Well, Patrick, you have become a close friend to Judith.

And with the outsider outside art fair coming up, it takes a lot of people to help pull it together.

And so what does it mean to you as an artist and a volunteer for the weekend, to be able to help pull this show together?

It means so much to me because is there any art is the soul of our species, and is there any better way to spend a weekend than coming out and supporting local artists?

Local galleries?

Judith Rock has the hardest working gal in show business.

I am so serious when I say that she works and works and works towards perfection, and she allows so many people over her vast and illustrious career.

She has allowed so many artists to have a voice and to show their work and to sell their artwork and talk about their artwork makes them feel valid as a career choice.

Being an artist, it's not necessarily everyone's, you know, dream profession for their child, but she's given so many people an opportunity to do that.

And I'm so humbled by her enthusiasm and her kindness towards artists and her ability to see the good in everyone and their art, and truly has been a help to me in my career.

She's given me several shows that just are the boost I need at the time when they come.

So it's very meaningful and we have the best time.

If you could see us, I wish you could roll the camera when it's just her and I talking about art in the car on the way to some auctions somewhere in Indiana or whatnot.

It's pretty fun.

So this weekend.

What is your favorite thing, or what is the thing that you're looking forward to the most?

Number one, I'm looking forward to Judy seeing all the artwork, you know, when it's all set up.

And after all the hard work and the pain and the blood, sweat, tears, when Judy goes around and sees everyone's artwork and picks out her favorites and I can tell, like, just the way she's looking, you know what I mean?

If she really loves something or not, that's going to be my favorite moment.

Also, though, the sense of community, you know, it's not often that an artist gets to be with 30, 40, 60 other artists also trying to sell their work and talk about their work and express themselves in a way that, you know, hopefully people like enough to buy a piece of work.

Yeah.

Well, thank you so much for all of the time you put in to help make an event like this possible, so that the rest of the community can come and experience it as well.

My pleasure.

Support local artists.

Have a great day.

Thanks for having me.

Yeah.

Thank you Judy.

So we are now with Caroline and Caroline.

You are one of those people that was a client and became a friend.

I sense this theme where it was an artist or a client and and they're now friends.

And so what is it like for you to be a part of this, this event?

This happened in this weekend.

You've volunteered your time to make it happen.

Yeah.

Well, I've come to many of the outsider shows, and it's always been so touching because it brings so many people together people from the city, the farms, local.

And it just we feel like we're all enjoying together.

And Judith's magic really does that because she did run a gallery in Chicago.

She did teach here.

So she has so many connections.

And her clients love her.

Her artists love her, and I love just being part of her community.

So I'm just grateful for that.

And I'm trying to support it as much as I can.

We got a whole group of volunteers together this year to help her out, and we're actually enjoying our little job.

So it's it's going well and we're really excited for the show to open.

I think the word that really stands out to me the most that you said is community, right?

And so Judith has this way of just creating a community from people who have never met and, and can become friends, can support each other in what their endeavor is with art.

And so that's just wonderful.

What is your favorite thing about this weekend?

I just believe that art talks to us in a way that words and conversation don't, and we don't have to get political or we don't have to push, or it's just the art inspires everybody and connects us.

It's it's generally pretty optimistic art, even though people have struggled that are often making it.

But I just feel like it's a really good connection that people feel together.

And if you did feel any awareness, like with a neighbor or something, but you saw them at the art fair, you would be like, hey, you know, it's so good to see you.

Like it kind of builds the bridges.

I love how art gives us a chance to express our emotions or whatever.

And you can see that same art and and it's allowing you to express in a different way.

And, and that actually allows us to come together a little bit more and have conversations over that art.

That's a good point, because I do think people are a little looser, and it's not because of alcohol.

It's like it's just everything so vibrant in the art even sort of celebrates community.

And I do I think it does sort of lighten and lift people up.

And it's also a complicated time right now.

So to have people coming together from all different walks of life and just being grateful to be together and and Judith's amazing because she introduces everybody like it's her own dinner party or something.

Like Patrick, I've met a bunch of times and have really gotten to know him because she's made the effort.

So it's really special community she's created.

But also the artists themselves are so grateful to be here, and they and they really reach out to each other and to the to the customers.

They come.

Well, it's the outsiders outside art fair and it's happening real soon.

Make sure that you come out and joy it this weekend.

And there's something for everybody here.

Yeah.