Outsider, shmoutsider

One interesting aspect of Sacramento’s art scene is how many of its artists teach developmentally disabled students at the Short Center North. Among these artist-teachers are such area luminaries as John Stuart Berger, Kim Scott, Stephanie Skalisky, Skinner and Steve Vanoni. This weekend, the Toyroom Gallery is featuring art by the Short Center North teachers and their students. We’ve only seen a few of the student-produced pieces, and although it would be easy to couch them in the “outsider art” category (which they are), they are oddly engaging in the manner that they express a level of unconscious strangeness that most so-called normal folks can’t access. The teachers also have pieces in the show, which is up Thursday, Friday and Saturday (September 16-18) at the gallery, located east of 24th Street in the alley directly behind 2419 Second Avenue. Hours are 6:30 p.m. until “late.”