Altar, Icons and Drawing by Stanley C. Wilson

Arts As Is

The University Art Gallery of California State University, Stanislaus presents, “Altars, Icons and Drawing,” by Stanley C. Wilson with his fascinating work of art in ways that may seem confusing at first but with time and patience, you will find answers within his work. From southern part of California, Wilson, as an artist has made an amazing body of diverse work. His work is timeless and took me by surprise by taking me to a special place that made me feel like I was a part of his work.

As an amazing storyteller and artist, Wilson is not only inspired by dreams and current events, but also by his personal life and places he has visited. His adventure would begin around his home town in southern California and would take him to as far as Africa. By traveling to other places it had help Wilson become a better artist to represent his work, and no matter how abstract they may seem, each tells a story about his life spent. These adventures and stories help Wilson with his traditional art with various colored paints on a canvas or pencil on a sheet of paper. When visiting Wilson’s “Altars, Icons and Drawings” will find chains, bullets, ashes, wood, metal, charcoal and what appears to be oil pastel on rag paper.

As I enter the building I was whoa by all the colourful altars, icons and drawing had been display by Wilson. While browsing the exhibit, a quick glance won’t be enough to sort out these elements. For example, in the piece called “Altar for El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles; Pio Pico’s Mestizo Reality,” bullet casings on the yard of a house extend out from the main piece by a chain. It also consist of half a woman in the middle of the sculpture. She took a large portion of the altar with bullets surrounded her but not through her as if she was protect of some sort. She was on top of a table with a hanging upside down heart beneath by a chain. Some might think it is just