Todd Williamson’s current exhibit, “Unpolarized Light” is a testament to his uncanny ability to “capture within” which defines us and then disburse it in a meticulous, yet reasoned fashion.
The depth of meaning, demonstrated upon each canvas, illuminates which is hidden from ordinary light, yet known to exist…One’s humanity and soul, One’s internal struggles and triumphs. Simply stated, this exhibition of works is as rich and commanding, as it is tender and thoughtful. It speaks as a symphony to the soul, opening oneself to the light within.jameswecker@mac.com http://www.arttoartpalettejournal.com/2013/05/the-light-from-within/ Seen: Todd Williamson @ George Billis Gallery April 10th, 2013 — by Chris Stanton in Shows
“Unpolarized Light,” a new exhibition of excellent work by Los Angeles artist Todd Williamson, got underway this past weekend at George Billis Gallery in Los Angeles. These handsome paintings feature colors that vibrate, recede and layer on top of each other in patterns both careful and uninhibited. They continue the artist’s exploration of the opposing elements within himself. Check out more information on the show here, and visit the artist’s website here. The exhibition runs through May 25. George Billis Gallery: 2716 S. La Cienega Blvd/Los Angeles, CA 90029 http://dailydujour.com/2013/04/10/seen-todd-williamson-george-billis-gallery/ Visual Arts Things Are Not Always What They Seem: The Illusion of the Precise and Liquescent Light at Wade Wilson Art and Anya Tish Gallery By Altamese Osborne Tue., Jan. 15 2013 at 10:00 AM Write Comment Categories: Visual Arts Photos by Altamese Osborne "Whenever I'm Alone" by Todd Williamson Stand approximately 10 feet away from "I Told You So," Todd Williamson's canvas painting depicting a lone white line traveling horizontally across a dark background. Next to it, a grayish black line creeps vertically down the perpetual white space of "Grand, Precise, Illusion," another Williamson canvas piece. Take a few steps closer to these paintings, and the lines that seemed so perfect become less so; some are smudged, others are bumpy, and you realize what you have been observing is not in fact precision, but The Illusion of the Precise, a three-person presentation of works that ask the question, "What is the relationship between line and space?" Additionally, Williamson, with artists Robert Ryman and Mark Williams, asks, "Where does line end and space begin?" While Williamson's pieces reveal deep contrasts, Williams' oil on paper works are subtle feats of geometry and Ryman's paper etchings require microscopic review. Ryman's framed pieces look, from a distance, much simpler than Williams' and Williamson's. Once again, however, come closer to discover a measurable amount of detailed etching of lines into pieces of paper. Williams' "Intent," "Everything" and "Suspect" all look like an artist's interpretation of Tetris. The black-and-white blocks of "Suspect" convey the hypothesis that line and space are illusions most clearly; does the white space start where the black blocks end, or does the black space start where the white ends? It's all very confusing. With the same theme of imprecise lines, blurring between lines and spaces and intricate details that you have to look hard at to uncover, The Illusion of the Precise is an allegory for one of life's greatest truisms: Things are not always what they seem. It's harder to determine which life lessons, if any, apply to Adela Andea's Mandragora: Liquescent Light exhibition upstairs at Anya Tish gallery. Perhaps: Variety is the spice of life? On second thought, Liquescent Light needs no philosophical bend; "Just enjoy us," the cacophonous pieces suggest. A feat of creative engineering, Liquescent Light, broken down to mean "liquid fluorescent light," is a playground for the eyes: light, electricity, geometry and tubing come together on the walls. With the ability to nearly walk into "Impervious Geometry," an installation of hanging LED neon lights and Plexiglas tubes tucked into the back corner of Anya Tish, it's a playground for the hands and feet, as well. "Impervious Geometry" by Adela Andea From left to right, the exhibition grows from pretty to pretty cool. The Valentine-y "Cryogenic Serpent" looks nothing like it sounds. The coiled pink serpent is a combination of Plexiglas, plastic pieces and neon lights that give off a romantic pink hue -- something a starry-eyed fifth-grader might make for his crush. On the opposite wall, "Liquescent Nebula" looks exactly like it sounds. This piece is also heavy on neon lights and Plexiglas, with an added twist of rotating fans that buzz cool air onto your face -- an engineer's dream. The Illusion of the Precise will be on view at Wade Wilson Art until February 2. For more information, visit wadewilsonart.com. Mandragora: Liquescent Light will be on display at Anya Tish Gallery until February 9. For more information, visit anyatishgallery.com. http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2013/01/things_are_not_always_what_the.php http://theculturecreative.tumblr.com/post/47232005861/todd-williamson-unpolarized-light-opening
Press Release:
TODD WILLIAMSON “UNPOLARIZED LIGHT” 4/6/2013 Todd Williamson’s current body of work continues his exploration of light, gesture, and space. Unpolarized light is a light wave vibrating or existing in more than one plane and is a fitting analogy for this body of work. The artist is working to depict the disparate and sometimes opposing elements in himself. He writes, “I am trying to create a body of work that wholly represents all of who I am, the strength of the vertical planes and the passive calm of the horizontal. The anger and passion of the deep movements of color and the calm, tranquil, sexual nature of the lines as they move up the canvas.” Williamson’s process is as reductive as it is additive - nearly as much paint is removed from the canvas as is applied. It is removed methodically and carefully to bring out the greatest texture and movement and then reapplied to achieve the final vision. Each painting is, as Marco di Mauro stated his essay on the work, “the visible perception of emotions on canvas” and reflects a moment in what the artist sees in the world around him. It is his means of depicting the vibrations of color and of emotion. Williamson writes of his work, “I see the chaos and the uncertainty that exists in the art world and with the use of my textured, parallel lines I attempt to control this chaos. Chaos surrounds us in everyday life. Each time we turn on the news we are inundated with more and more unsettling actions and happenings. My lines help me to lay all that I see out in a readable manner, like the way an ancient fresco is read by a scholar. Each movement, color, gesture, tone, and vibrancy in the work is deeply symbolic and can be read by each person that stands in front of the work and looks into the depths that exist there.” Unpolarized Light: "Light emitted by the sun, a lamp, or by a candle flame is unpolarized light. Such light waves are created by electric charges that vibrate in many directions, thus creating a wave that vibrates in many directions. Unpolarized light has a wave that has half its vibrations in the horizontal plane and half in the vertical plane." George Billis Gallery LA 2716 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034 T: 310-838-3685 F: 310-838-3438 www.georgebillis.com/galleryLA.html Legendary Los Angeles artist Mike Kelley has passed away at his LA home this morning. Such a tragedy.
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