The Art of Bill Wolff

Public Art Review: Issue 45, Parks and Recreation

2011-12-06T06:18:00.002-05:00

Click on the picture above to read the article. Or click here.

Issue 45 covers the theme of "Parks and Recreation" from all sides — exploring sculpture parks, artist residencies in National and State parks, the latest surge of projects at sports stadiums, international play spaces, and more.

Issue 45’s Feature articles include:

A piece by Carolyn Law and Matthew Stadler that shows how artists can play an important role in shaping how we experience our shared natural spaces;
Profiles of three public artists: Cathey Billian, Bill Wolff, and Chris Manzione, talking about the opportunities and challenges of their park residencies;
A process story detailing the collaboration between the Art Students League and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; and
Three pieces surveying the creative ideas present in noteworthy sculpture parks, stadiums, and play spaces around the world.

Departments include three On Location reports from Liverpool, Rhode Island, and Lake City, Colorado. Conference reports from France and San Diego, California are included, along with recent publications, book reviews, news, and recent projects.

"National Dong Hwa University Public Art Establishment Project" November, 2011

2011-11-27T13:22:00.000-05:00

Bill spent a week in Huelien, Taiwan, as a visiting artist at National Dong Hwa's University for a celebration of the centennial anniversary of Taiwan, as well as a celebration of public art. His piece, "Formosan Magpie," will remain on exhibition at the university.

"Formosan Magpie."

With host and friend, Professor Tingchen Cheng

Public Art Review

2011-09-10T13:47:00.000-04:00

Bill is to be featured in an upcoming article about public artist residencies in the November issue of Public Art Review. Images to come!

First Friday at the Hungerford, 8/5

2011-07-30T14:27:00.003-04:00

New Works by Bill Wolff

Hungerford Building

Suite 344

1115 East Main Street

Rochester, NY

First Friday, August 5th 6-9

www.billwolff.net

June 2011, Cincinnati Review

2011-06-01T05:44:00.000-04:00

http://www.cincinnatireview.com/#/issues/current/8-1

Bill's portfolio is featured in the summer 2011 issue of the Cincinnati Review from the University of Cincinatti.

5/1-8/1, 'May Exhibition" Maltex Building, Burlington, Vermont

2011-05-03T19:15:00.003-04:00

http://www.burlingtoncityarts.org/BCACommunity/Event.aspx?id=760&r=

April 2011: Works in progress

2011-04-04T22:24:00.001-04:00

A new series of bronzes following the "Flock" theme is in the works.

"FLUX" 3/4/11-3/31/11

2011-02-28T20:03:00.002-05:00

Hungerford Urban Artisans 1115 E. Main St. March 4-31: "Flux?" Open hours on Saturdays, contact for more info. A showcase exhibit, with pieces from each participating artist from the Hungerford. (facebook.com/huastudios.)

http://huastudios.com/

Toronto International Art Fair, October/November 2010

2010-10-31T06:05:00.001-04:00

"Organ," 2010. Wood, copper. Dimensions variable.

Gallery CoExist from Tokyo met up with Bill at the Toronto International Art Fair
this weekend for an exhibition of new work.

Shanghai Art Fair, September 2010

2010-09-24T21:15:00.000-04:00

Pictures from Art Shanghai

2010-05-25T09:24:00.000-04:00

Gallery CoExist recently took some of Bill's work to Art Shanghai 2010.

Fifth Annual Binghamton University Iron Pour, 4/23/2010

2010-04-24T11:33:00.003-04:00

On Friday, Bill traveled down to Binghamton University with some of his N.T.I.D. and Rochester Institute of Technology students for the BU Art Department's Fifth Annual Iron Pour. Students and faculty from Alfred, Binghamton, Cornell, Cortland, Keystone, Skidmore, Syracuse, R.I.T. and N.T.I.D. participated.

Iron was poured, fun was had, art was made!

"Elemental at Cobblestone." 4/2/2010 - ongoing

2010-04-01T21:12:00.004-04:00

THIS TIME AT
Cobblestone
________________________________________
Cobblestone Contemporary Space/Sculpture Park

Presents sculptures by Bill Wolff, on the campus grounds,
located at 10 Prince St. Rochester, NY 14607
Opening on the 2nd of April, 2010 from 6 – 9 pm.

" 'Elemental', was built in response to a culture, which is based on continuing consumption and the implications thereof. They are giant-scale figurative abstractions in live oak, copper and rope, with human gestures." - Bill Wolff

Pictures and blog from the event (click here)

First Friday website

"Flock" 2/23/2010 - 3/14/2010

2010-01-18T07:56:00.011-05:00

Bill Wolff, Solo Exhibition
Gallery COEXIST, Taito-ku, Tokyo.

See photos from the exhibition here

See the writeup in SHIFT online here (English)
See the writeup in "SHIFT" online here (Japanese)

Exhibition Preview: Hungerford Building, Rochester 2/5/2010 - 6-9:30 PM
1115 East Main St. (at N. Goodman)

"Rochester Contemporary Annual Members Exhibition" 12/5-1/7/2010

2009-11-15T15:43:00.003-05:00

Rochester Contemporary Art Center
137 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 461-2222
info@rochestercontemporary.org

The 19th Annual Members Exhibition and Celebration will be open to the public December 5 – January 17. Opening Reception will be held December 5, 6-10pm.

Members Preview Reception: Dec. 4, 5-6pm
20% off any artwork purchase
First Friday Public Preview: Dec. 4, 6-10pm
Opening Reception: Dec. 5, 6-10pm

link

Open Studio: 11/6/2009, 12/3/2009

2009-10-31T10:06:00.008-04:00

Bill Wolff
Studio 344
Works Well Traveled: Recent Sculpture made in Japan and new work.

Part of First Friday at the Hungerford Building,
Rochester, NY
November 6th, December 3rd, 2009, 6-9PM

Studio 344, Hungerford Bldg. Door 2
1115 East Main St. (at N. Goodman)
Rochester, NY 14609

Listing in City Newspaper
First Friday website

Dan Urbanski Artist in Residence, August 2009

2009-08-28T20:16:00.005-04:00

This August Bill participated in the Dan Urbanski Artist-In-Residence Program, in cooperation with Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Upper Michigan.

http://www.porkiesfestival.org/press.html

Click here for more photos

Cardigan Mountain School, Summer 2009

2009-08-09T08:20:00.010-04:00

Bill taught two three-week long ceramics classes this summer at the Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire, helping children ages 8-13 to discover the "Miracle of Clay."

"Remains to Be Seen." 5/28/2009-6/7/2009

2009-06-04T07:03:00.014-04:00

artist statement

More photos of the opening and auction here.

The event “REMAINS TO BE SEEN” involves an open-call multi-media art exhibit of emerging and established North American artists, inviting them to convey their thoughts, experiences, and perceptions of events surrounding genocide, its consequences and the healing process.

Rhonda Corvese, the award-winning Toronto-based curator, is curating the exhibit.

The eight artists participating in the exhibit are Ulysses Castellanos, Arie Galles, Joyce Lau, Steven Loft, Katie Pretti, Shannon Scully, Veronika Szkudlarek and Bill Wolff.

Date/Location: 5/28/2009-6/7/2009, Lennox Contemporary, Toronto.

This event is sponsored by Ontario Arts Council/Friends of the Visual Arts.

For more information go to: http://www.genocidestudies.org/

"Bidai Select." 4/7/2009-4/19/2009

2009-04-17T05:55:00.005-04:00

Bill was a participant in a group show in Gallery CoExist from 4/7 to 4/19, in Tokyo's Akihabara. Pictured: "Birdhouse" (ginko, copper) and "Social Climbers" (bronze, twine).

More images at:

http://www.billwolff.net/gallerycoexist/index.html

"Yield" 2/21/2009-2/26/2009

2009-02-08T06:23:00.012-05:00

Bill Wolff: Yield
Tokyo University of the Arts, Sculpture Building
February 21st-26th, 2009

See images from the show here （写真）.

"The Third Annual Alien Exhibition" 1/5 - 1/9/2009

2009-01-06T15:13:00.006-05:00

The Third Annual Alien Exhibition
Foreign Artists Making Work In Japan

January 5th-9th, 10AM-6PM
Reception/Party: January 8th (木） 5-7PM

Tokyo University of the Arts Union Gallery
東京藝術大学

Ueno Campus
〒110-8714　
東京都台東区上野公園12-8

"Furrow" 11/25-12/6/2008

2008-10-26T07:38:00.009-04:00

Solo Exhibition: Bill Wolff

"Furrow"

Gallery Sakamaki,
ギャラリー坂巻

11/25-12/6
Reception 11/25 17:00~

〒104-0031　東京都中央区京橋2-8-18 昭和ビルB2F

Access:
http://gallery-sakamaki.net/access-e.html (English)
http://gallery-sakamaki.net/access.html　(Japanese)

photo gallery link here

Troll No Mori 2008 (11/3-11/23/2008)

2008-10-26T07:10:00.008-04:00

2008年11月3日(月・祭)-11月23日(日)
　　IN THE PARK 2008
Open Air Art Exhibition
November 3th (Mon.) - 23th (Sun.) 2008
Zempukuji Park and surrounding area

http://www.npo-machimedia.org/trolls/information.html (Japanese)

http://www.npo-machimedia.org/trolls/e-information.html (English)

New Works From an Old Studio 4 10/17-10/26/2008

2008-10-17T04:53:00.012-04:00

"Birdhouse."

The Fourth Annual "New Work from an Old Studio"
http://www.geidai.ac.jp/labs/denchu/ (Japanese)

第４回　2008年10月17日（木）～2008年10月26日（日）　
10:00～17:00　旧平櫛田中邸

「アトリエの末裔あるいは未来」展についての問い合わせ:

　　　　　　　〒110-8714
東京都台東区上野公園12-8
東京藝術大学美術学部　彫刻科　（助手：大竹　利絵子）
TEL：050-5525-2163
FAX：050-5525-2494

日本語：denchuinfo@gmail.com

Nezu Atelier Underground Artists/シオン谷中アトリエ地下室の６人

2008-08-14T03:04:00.011-04:00

Nezu Atelier Underground Artists
シオン谷中アトリエ地下室の６人

Open Studio

9/22/08 (Monday) - 10/14/08 (Tuesday)

http://www.billwolff.net/nezuatelier.html

"Surfaces, Depths: Recent Works by Erin Carney and Bill Wolff" 1/26/2008-3/15/2008

2008-01-01T10:21:00.006-05:00

Photos from the "Surfaces, Depths" Exhibition (Flash)
（展の写真）

Views of Erin Carney's Paintings

Two-person show　（二人展）

Surfaces, Depths:
Recent work by Erin Carney and Bill Wolff
January 26 - March 15, 2008

Spool Mfg.
138-140 Baldwin Street Johnson City, New York 13790
map

Gallery Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 12-3.
Opening reception: Sat., January 26, 7-10 pm.
Closing reception and artist talk: Sat., March 15, 7-10 pm

Links:
Listing in the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin
Spool Mfg.
Erin Carney, painter

"Alien Art at Tokyo Geidai" 1/7/2008-1/11/2008

2008-01-01T10:15:00.000-05:00

Alien Art: Foreign Artists Making Work In Japan

Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
東京藝術大学

Ueno Campus
〒110-8714　
東京都台東区上野公園12-8

1/7/2008-1/11/2008
Opening Reception: 1/10/2008, 5-7 PM

"New Works From An Old Studio 3" 11/22-12/2/2007

2007-10-23T06:57:00.000-04:00

http://www.geidai.ac.jp/labs/denchu/

会期　２００７年１１月２２日（木）～１２月２日（日）期間中無休

会場　　旧平櫛田中邸　〒110-0002　東京都台東区上野桜木2-20-3

時間　　１０：００～１７：０0

ギャラリートーク　　１２月２日（日）　13：00～15：00　

（出品作家による作品解説を行います)

主催　　上野タウンアートミュージアム実行委員会（東京芸術大学・台東区）

"Troll No Mori 2007" 10/21-11/2/2007

2007-09-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

「トロールの森2007　まちと森をつなぐかたち」
公開制作／2007年10月21日（日）～11月2日（木）
展示期間／2007年11月3日(土・祭)～2007年11月18日(日)　

"Trolls In A Metropolitan Green Park"
On-site installation in Zenpukuji Park, Tokyo

http://www.npo-machimedia.org/trolls/information.html
http://trollnomori2007.blogspot.com/

"Stone, Paper and Wood: sculpture and prints" 10/11-10/16/2007

2007-09-30T00:56:00.001-04:00

Three-person exhibition:
"Stone, Paper and Wood: sculpture and prints"

Taiwan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and America
Cheng, Ting-Chen/Taida Jasarevic/Bill Wolff

台湾、ボスニア・ヘルツェゴビナ、アメリカ。
３国３人による自然展。

Promo-Arte Project Gallery (click here for gallery link)
Omotesando, Tokyo
10/11/2007-10/16/2007

Summer Workshop, Yokohama Museum of Art

2007-08-08T07:05:00.001-04:00

現代彫刻「里山の木でつくりましょう」
Bill was an instructor this summer at the Yokohama Museum of Art Citizen's Workshop see link - scroll down to #8 (Japanese) where he taught a contemporary wood carving/sculpture course. Thanks to the museum and workshop staff (especially Kinoshita-san). And of course, thanks to everyone who participated. Keep in touch!

Mongsanpo Sand Sculpture Festival

2007-05-31T09:14:00.002-04:00

Bill was an invited participant in an international sand sculpture festival held July 21 on Mongsanpo Beach in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province. Thanks to Professor Kim Sung-Bok of Sungshin Women's University, for everything.

韓国の彫刻祭、７月２１日２００７年．

"Keizo Tawa, Bill Wolff, Masayuki Hashimoto." 5/21 - 6/8 2007

2007-04-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

Three person exhibition: "Keizo Tawa, Bill Wolff, Masayuki Hashimoto."

Bill Wolff, 2007. "Ask the Oracle"
Mainichi Shinbun review (Japanese)
毎日新聞　2007年5月29日　東京夕刊

5/21 - 6/8/2007

12:00-19:00 (closed on Sunday)
Opening Reception: 5/21 5-7PM

Gallery Sakamaki

2-8-18-B2 Kyoubashi,
Chuo-cho, Tokyo 104-0031
http://gallery-sakamaki.net

多和圭三、ビル・ウォルフ、橋本真之　立体展
５月２１日（月）－６月８日（金）２００７
１２：００－１９：００（日曜日休）
オープニングパーティー５月21日５－７PM

map (English)
地図（日本語）

Above image copyright (C) GA-DEN-IN-SUI-SYA.

"New Art" Journal feature 2/1/2007

2007-02-10T07:21:00.001-05:00

Bill was recently profiled in a Tokyo Arts publication called New Art Journal (Shinbijutsu Shinbun). (Feb. 1, 2007) The column is called "21st century faces" and features Bill and his work at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, where he is currently researching hollow block wood carving techniques. The title of the article translates as "A Love of Wood."

Publication Details: "A Love of Wood: Bill Wolff" (Japanese) New Art Journal (Shinbijutsu Shinbun), Tokyo, Japan. February 1, 2007.

Jonah: a work in progress

2007-01-22T07:15:00.000-05:00

With studio lighting...

And, with natural lighting.

These are two photos of Bill Wolff's newest work, "Jonah" as seen in the studio.

The piece is approximately 190cm x 240cm x 150cm, and weighs about 300 pounds. It was made from a single camphor log, cut apart and reassembled. A small person can easily stand inside it.

Venue for this piece is currently being located.

"Foreign Influence: Ten Legal Aliens Making Art in Japan" 1/29-2/2/2007

2007-01-10T17:00:00.001-05:00

Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Union Gallery.
Bill was one of two organizers/curators for this event, which involved 10 members of the foreign art community in Tokyo.

"New Work From An Old Studio 2" 12/1-12-10/2006

2006-11-21T16:38:00.000-05:00

The Second Annual "New Work From An Old Studio" was held from December 1st-10th at the Hiragushi Denchu Atelier in Sakuragi-cho, Ueno, Tokyo. The Denchu atelier/residence was built in 1920 in Ueno's Sakuragi neighborhood as a residence and studio for sculptor Hiragushi Denchu (1872-1979). Denchu taught wood carving at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts from the age of 73 (1944 to 1952).

For the second "New works from an old studio," graduate students, faculty and researchers from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music once again exhibited wood sculpture in this historical building. Unlike a conventional gallery, works exhibited at the residence were sited directly on tatami mats and in various places around the house and atelier.

Bill's piece was sited in the front room, overlooking the front courtyard of this traditional wooden home.

http://www.geidai.ac.jp/labs/denchu/index.htm (Japanese)

Map http://www.geidai.ac.jp/labs/denchu/map.htm

"open" 10/31-11/11/2006

2006-10-21T19:03:00.000-04:00

This solo exhibition (個展） was held from 10.31.2006 to 11.11.2006 at Gallery Sakamaki in Kyobashi, Tokyo. Thank you to Sakamaki Kiku for her assistance.

"C-427." White Oak 「樫」

"Open." 「オ- プン」 Cherry 「桜」

"Composite Creature." 「合成生物」

"The Hand That Takes." 「ものをとる手」
(piece in the center of the room)
Cherry, camphor, thread 「桜、楠、ひも」

Sam Thinks It’s Probably A Monster
「サム君はもしかしたらこれは怪物ではと思っています」
Cherry, Plum 「桜、梅ノ木」

Sam Thinks It`s Probably a Monster
「サム君はもしかしたらこれは怪物ではと思っています」

Bill Wolff ビル　ウォルフ

"open" at Gallery Sakamaki in Kyobashi, Tokyo.

Dates: 2006 10.31 (火）　ー　11.11 (土）

link: http://gallery-sakamaki.net

Access: Kyobashi station, exit 6
■〒104-0031 東京都中央区京橋2-8-18 昭和ビルB2F　
(１階は「オフィスデポ」)
English/Japanese map　(地図): http://www.gallery-sakamaki.net/access.html

「この材料は何？　これは何に見える？　どうやって作ったの？」

この質問はとても大事なことだと私は思います。

木材はもと樹木でした。そして今も生きているものです。人の手に触れられて、人間の文化の中に溶けこんだ樹木です。木彫や木工は、さまざまな時代や場所や思想をつなぎ合わせてくれるようなものだと思います。
私の作品はたいてい、身ぶりを持って生まれます。私はその造形上のバランスをとるのがとても楽しいです。材料の選び方・使い方と私の作品のコンセプトとは密接に関係しています。作品の形がどのような仕草にみえるがということがこの作品の一番大事なところです。

「それ何なの？　何と考えたらいいの？」

彫刻作品それ自体は、それぞれの材料で作られた物そのものでしかありません。それがどんなイメージに見えるかというのは、作家や見る人自身が頭の中で作り出しているものです。
これらの作品では、動物や植物や人間のイメージがゆるやかにくみあわさっています。それらのイメージは大なり小なり抽象化されていて、見る人には自分自身でいろいろ考えてみてほしいと思っています。

“Open”　オープン

1. Not closed, surrounded, fastened or blocked; allowing things to pass through.
2. Not yet decided or settled.
3. Willing to listen to or think about new ideas.

“Where did it come from and how did it get here? What is doing?”
These questions seem fundamental to me.

Wood comes from trees, and is a living material with a rich history of use; wood sculpture and craft connect time, place, and idea. In my work, material selection and usage is always closely related to conceptual approach. Ideas and forms usually originate with gesture, and I enjoy manipulating balance. What the forms appear to be doing and how they physically inhabit space and relate to the viewers is the soul of this work.

“What is it?” “What is it supposed to be?”

Sculptural objects are what they are made of, and imagery is presented by the artist and interpreted by the viewer. This work is no different; animal, plant and human images are loosely combined in greater or lesser degrees of abstraction in the hope that the viewer will ask these questions of themselves.

"Yokohama no Mori Bijutsu-ten" 8/21-9/18/2006

2006-09-10T08:12:00.001-04:00

"Creation and Voice of the Wood; the Art Exhibition in the Forest of Yokohama." This three-week long installation in the forest involved 15 international artists from Japan, the USA, Germany, Bosnia-Hertzegovenia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia.

http://www.morinokoe.jp/(Japanese 日本語)

"Coalition." 5/29/2006-6/2/2006.

2006-06-04T06:34:00.000-04:00

"Coalition of the Willing." 2006. Cypress, white oak, copper, rope. 210cm x 150cm x 180 cm.

"Yurei(Specter)." 2006. White oak, rope. 250cm x 50cm x 100 cm.

"Coalition of the Willing." 2006. Cypress, white oak, copper, rope. 210cm x 150cm x 180 cm.

"Yurei(Specter)." 2006. White oak, rope. 250cm x 50cm x 100 cm.

"Coalition." Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku Genkan Gallery, Tokyo, Japan. May 29th-31st, 2006.

Coalition:

The work in this exhibition deals with the idea that a way of life focused on consumption is untenable. Sooner or later, unthinking and unrelenting consumption begets violence. While all of this work is derived from figurative origins, gesture is given first priority, with the human form reduced to open mouths and sharp, pointy hands. Material usage and conceptual approach go hand in hand in my work.

Wood is flesh.
Metal represents control.
Rope is a symbol of human activity.

Works:

None of this work is limited to one idea or interpretation.

Temptation. Camphor, other wood, copper, rope, lumber. 2006.

The title refers to the Christian story of the Apple and the idea of Original Sin: In the first part of the Christian Bible, the first two people are tempted to eat an apple which had been forbidden by God. They are encouraged to do so by the Devil, in the form of a serpent.

Coalition of the Willing. Camphor, white oak, rope, copper. 2006.

The core concept behind this work is the instability and inherent danger of a way of life based on consumption. The figurative form is fundamentally unable to support itself. The “base” deliberately refers to a gallows.

Yure (specter). White oak, rope. 2006.

A limbless form in a gesture of frustration; giving voice to the voiceless, and connecting this small cycle of works to a specific place, history and time. “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them”, Henry David Thoreau, Walden.

Coalition（連合すること）：

この作品は消費中心の生活は持ちこたえることができないのだというアイデアを扱っています。思慮のなく止まらない消費は人間の暴力一般を引き起こす因となるものだと思います。この作品はすべて人間のイメージあり、そののイメージを作品に用いる際にはジェスチャが一番大切です。人間の形には人間のイメージが含まれています。開いた口ときれいに先のとがった手で表しました。私の制作ではコンセプトと材の選び方は密接に関わっています。
木は肉体です。
金属は統制を象徴しています。
ロープは人の活動のシンボルです。

作品

この作品は何重もの意味を持っています。私の意図は以下にご紹介しますが
他の人にとっては別の意味があるように見えるかもしれません。そのこと興味深はいことと思います。

Temptation（誘惑）。クスノキ、機、銅、ロープ、材木。２００６。

この作品はキリスト教の初めての罪についての物語を象徴しています。キリスト教の聖書の最初の部分で二人の人間が神が禁じるりんごを食べてしまいました。悪魔がヘビの形になって誘惑したためです。

Coalition of the Willing（快く連合すること）。クスノキ、樫、ロープ、銅。２００６。

この作品の中心のコンセプトは、消費中心の生活は不安定でしかも危険だということです。この人間の形は自立出来ません。ですので台座を使用していますがその台座は絞首台象徴しています。

幽霊　（Specter）。樫、ロープ。２００６。

フラストレーションを表す身ぶりと手のようで手になりきらない形を象徴しています。声のないの彫刻ですが、声を上げているように見せています。そして、ここにある一連の作品を、ある時と場所とに関連つけています。「ほとんどの人は静かに自暴自棄な生活を送り、歌えなかった歌を心の内に潜めたまま墓場に入る」。（ヘヌリーヂャビド　ソロー）。