Kylie O’Leary
Exhibit Assignment
October 3rd, 2011
Not Exactly There – Michael Wille
At the University of Mississippi, art exhibits are shown at Meek, the school of art. The main exhibit which displays artwork is Gallery 130. Artists allow viewers to admire their artwork here, free of charge. Currently, paintings from Michael Wille’s Not Exactly There are featured at the gallery.
Geometric figures, unique shading, and abstract colors are abundant in Michael Wille’s paintings at the exhibit, Not Exactly There. Three paintings are in the front room of the gallery, while 29 are in the main room. Each canvas features a unique set of colors and a distinct style which makes them stand out from one another, while maintaining a universal and pleasing style.
This particular exhibit is somewhat different than Wille’s traditional studio. He leaves behind the referential characteristics of a location that can be noticed by an audience. For this exhibit, Wille chose a location that he was familiar with, such as South Africa, Rome, or Cleveland. While presenting abstract depictions of these cities, he invites the viewer to construct their own idea of what the picture resembles.
Viewers of the Not Exactly There exhibit are not expected to know what landmarks or features of a city are being depicted, but instead, are invited to study the artwork and to come up with their own interpretation of the picture.
The Not Exactly There paintings exhibit the landscape and architecture of specific places Wille has been. Wille hopes everyone will see each picture in a different way. He also intends for the viewer to feel like they are looking at a new or foreign place when looking at his art. Viewers are encouraged to create their own interpretations of what they see on each canvas.
The process of an artist choosing a city and exploring ways to depict it has been prevalent for nearly a decade.
Wille wants viewers of the Not Exactly There exhibit to examine his paintings in a non-objective way and to free themselves of any prior judgments of a location and how it should be portrayed through art.
In addition to his active studio practice, Wille is an Associate Professor of Art at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. Wille also holds the title of Associate Director of the School of Art, where he teaches a wide range of courses, such as painting and drawing.
Wille received his master’s degree in painting from Bowling Green State University, and his bachelor’s degree from Millikin University. He has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions around the country. Wille has also participated in exhibitions in Johannesburg, South Africa and Pietermaritzburg, Japan.
Wille’s paintings have been featured five times in the Midwest edition of New American Paintings, including 2010’s edition.
The Not Exactly There exhibit is at the Ole Miss Art Department as a way for students to learn more about abstract art. Students at the university are personally involved with the gallery. Assistant Professor of Art, Philip Jackson, said “Graduate students install each artist’s exhibit and de-install it. Without them, the exhibits would not be displayed.”
The exhibition has been on display to the public at the university from September 5th to October 6th, 2011. Viewers are eligible to hear Wille talk at the reception of his exhibit on October 6th at 2:30 p.m.
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