William T. Wiley
William T. Wiley, Bones, Dunce & Gentleman, 1982, aluminum, lead, acrylic, 71 x 57 x 31 inches. Collection of the ASU Art Museum, gift of Stéphane Janssen 1997.123.000.
About the Artist
William Wiley often cites this quotation by James Hillman: “We
sin against the imagination whenever we ask an image for its meaning, requiring
that images be translated into concepts.” Are we now trespassing
in this attempt to discuss this work of art? If so, please forgive us, Mr.
Wiley.
Born in Bedford, Indiana, in 1937, Wiley began to make art at a very early
age. Throughout his career, he had teachers and friends who recognized his
talent, beginning with his high school art teacher. He then went to the San
Francisco Art Institute where he was exposed to friends and teachers such
Elmer Bischoff, Frank Lobdell, Manuel Neri, Joan Brown and Robert Hudson.
Though the Art Institute had a somewhat conservative attitude about the commercial
aspects of art, Wiley demonstrated that he was an individual thinker as well
as an artist with great originality. He felt that the artist who was selling
his art must have the inner strength to realize that he, in turn, was not
selling any part of himself.
Wiley graduated from the Art Institute in 1961 and joined the Department of
Art, University of California at Davis. His concept that “there
is no predetermined right way to handle an art problem,” has earned
him a reputation as a “devoted and inspiring teacher.” An
important figure in the Bay Area art community, Wiley has expanded his art
to include filmmaking, sculpture and collaborations with composers such as
Steve Reich.
Looking at Bones, Dunce and Gentleman, it appears to be two columns, one with
a top hat and one with a dunce cap, joined by a pole. On the floor is
a black skeleton, clutching a pack of cigarettes. The explanations that
have greeted this work include: a “Wiley universe-half nightmare, half
daydream,” a representation of divided “intellect fighting it
out between ingenuous brilliance and brilliant stupidity,” and a “comically
cosmological work…with a small, wistful skeleton.” Wait
a minute. Are these people all looking at the same work? Yes, they are
and that is the true genius of William Wiley.
Wiley’s art is related to his life. In it one sees his wit, intellectual
exploration of language and word-games, and awareness of human problems and
foibles. Though it has been said that “Wiley is the greatest work
of art he ever created,” his own words best describe him: “I
am my own enigma.”
by Muriel Weithorn
ASU Art Museum Board Member and Research Volunteer
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