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Will Wilson Born in San Francisco in 1969
Will Wilson’s inspiration to weave glass beads from Japan originated with Wilson’s
mother’s background in weaving (Navajo). The flat surface of the glass beads allows
Wilson to create a QR code or Microsoft tag which gives layering to a contemporary vs.
traditional concept in art. “Technology preserves tradition,” says Wilson about this
medium. Technology creates layers of education and response to the work for the
younger generation. One scans the abstract tags that are laboriously woven inside the
weavings. The smart phone or tablet will then take you to a video about the artist’s
story.
Wilson’s weavings create another layer of abstraction through engagement in his
artwork by the viewer. Each bead creates its own pixel to the larger. Will Wilson
explores the originality of weaving, similar to artist Chuck Close, as shown in his
pointillism in photorealism. The creative process also reassures that the original intent
of the artist is about the work and the artists end result, not the romantic idea of
weaving. Will Wilson’s weavings are the actualization of the universally abstract nature
of traditional art analyzed and used as a contemporary association that penetrates to
the spiritual domain or artist’s story. A continuum of representational/associational
abstraction is shown through the artist’s videos. These concepts are applied to the
artist’s experiences with Navajo art and the relationship between art and the important
Navajo philosophical concept of hozho ("beauty," "harmony,").
A recent interest of the artist is the origination of the Fairchild Project in Shiprock, NM,
between 1965 and 1975. Fairchild intended to hire Navajo weavers (women) to create
the first computer chip for circuit boards. Raymond Nakai, chairman of
the Navajo Nation from 1963 to 1971, and the self-styled first “modern”
Navajo leader, was instrumental in bringing Fairchild to Shiprock. He
spoke fervently about the necessity of transforming the Navajo into a
“modern” Indian tribe. What better way to do so than to put its
members to work making chips, portent signs of futurity no bigger than
a person’s fingernail? Will Wilson desires to explore the families
associated with the Fairchild project and their stories. He continues to
have an interest in technology vs. traditions in art.
Jackson Pollock by Will Wilson: glass bead weaving, loom. 23 by 22 by
9 inches. Scan Microsoft Tag - a video created by Museum of Modern
Art in San Francisco- interview of Jackson Pollock. Will Wilson’s interest
is when he reveals that he walks around the painting similar to the
Native Sand Paintings in the Southwest. uniqu
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