Pic by Gilchrist shot in January for May show mailer: “GW unmasked.” Prophetic?
The GW sculpture opening at The Hilliard Gallery in Kansas City was to have been in May but blah blah blah (aren’t we all just covided-out and tired of it all?) Postponement, then the date became August 7th, First Friday. So that should occur, in modified circumstances that will keep gallery-goers and personnel safe.
For lack of a theme, how about “For Sale?” The sculpture is that. Sales would help the artist, the gallery, the local economy. I won’t belabor that. The work stands on its own. There are a dozen wall hangings and possibly as many standing pieces. When Bob came out to the farm to collect the wall pieces, we masked men took them out of the storage container in the pasture and laid them in the grass and gazed at them.
One of a dozen wall pieces. There will be standing pieces as well…
I was pleased. So was Bob. Seeing them all side by side in the grass was a treat because I had been so immersed in their production and that tunnel vision focus on each piece that takes over in a productive state, that I’d not been able to savor the work. As a show, the walls would be the best way to view it. The standing pieces will be spaced here and there—and limited spaced-apart viewers will make it ideal for walkarounds and adequate perusal of angles.
Then we went in the barn to look at the standing pieces. They loomed impressively (to me) in the ghostly dark. I’ll truck them downtown in the coming weeks and hope they look as commanding in the bright, clean gallery. There’s no throughline. No trend. As soon as I’d finish one piece, off I’d gallop in a different direction. But, overall, it’s G-stuff. Maybe you can tell. Like that Dallas art pub said, “(Wise is) a cross between Rube Goldberg and John Chamberlain.”
Jump to another subject. I was discussing various masks with Freddie and she said, “Well, we might as well get the best we can find. We may be wearing them well into the future. Maybe years.” Looking at the dismal stats for Kansas and 17 other states that prize their so-called liberties above their health, that they are risking the latter aggressively, that may be. Retail is now picking up the gauntlet where states are failing miserably. Walmart and Sam’s Club say wear a mask or stay out—in much nicer language, but firm. Lowes and other establishments are doing the same. They may save us.
The future. The next blog will probably be about a project called “Billy and the King Midget” and it involves a story about a WWII postwar kid and his mode of travel. The illustrator for this (Graphic novel? Animated feature film?) is the talented Mr. Myers (Kevin) of the world called Universe K (look that site up at http://www.universek.com/ it’s an eye-opener)
The kid/protagonist is a genius and he converts a 40’s runabout into a Tesla powered flying machine. He liberates a Mexican girl from dire consequences, and discovers a Nazi stronghold in the Amazon where his missing parents may be held captive. Other characters include “Torque” Thomas, a black mechanic/engineer, and John Champion, an ex-OSS officer and Billy’s godfather. A bright dog named Sarge completes the tight family which runs a salvage yard in, where else? Kansas City. And yes, we’re looking for an agent.
Billy, Sarge and the 1946 King Midget. A real car from the pages of Popular Mechanics. Build it from plans, or buy it readymade. Art: Kevin Myers.
Maybe this small but resourceful blog readership (you) can help in that direction? We’d be forever in your debt. Maybe we’d send cookies at Christmas. Or BBQ. Award-winning Kansas wine from the winery down the road.
Until the next blog, be well, be safe, and be looking to the next frontier. We’ll see you there.