The sixth annual Common Threads show, set to take place at Hopewell Valley Vineyards on Saturday, Feb. 3 from noon to 5 p.m., and feature the work of seven artists, including Titusville’s Andrew Wilkinson.
This year’s theme is “Uncommon and Indescribable.” On display will be art with a “modernist feel,” accoring to the Common Threads website. Other artists include Howard Michaels, an art teacher at Lawrence Intermediate School; photographer Asia Popinska; artist and designer Jonathan “Lank” Conner; photographer and multimedia artist Lauren Otis; painter Kata Mejia; and “glitch artist” Phillip McConnell.
Wilkinson, formally trained in both fine art and media communications, is a student of perception, bridging culture and subculture with introspection, humor and wit. He looks to combine both disciplines to create captivating reconstructions of everyday objects into works of art that challenge even the most devoted perception.
Iconic cultural imagery is gently riled up to encourage a reevaluation of nostalgia and settled perceptions. Of his work, Wilkinson says, “the artist is the custodian of identifying what is current and exploiting the content into another accessible medium. I aim to constantly exploit the aspect of accessibility.”
Mainstream iconic pop images infused into Wilkinson’s world after having moved to America from Southern England, and stayed vivid in his mind.
“Aspects of ‘culture’ became amplified after moving to the U.S.A. and getting an early cultural introduction through watching American television,” he says. “Things I didn’t grow up with — like The Brady Bunch, The Monkees, the QVC Channel, K-mart, late night infomercials — all were visually overwhelming to me. Eventually, the output became art in the form of whichever media best suited the message.”
Though Wilkinson’s art is anchored by his extensive study of photography, his mediums span the realm of video art, printmaking, and casting sculpture. “I have aspirations to work on a larger scale with all the mediums I use and hope to find gallery support to do so. For now, my goals are in the present — to make good art now,” he says.
Wilkinson’s work has been featured in the Jersey City Museum; Newark Library Prints Collection; Hudson Valley Center of Contemporary Art; Arizona Museum of Contemporary Art; Philadelphia Sculpture Gym; Arts Council of Princeton; D&R Greenway; Abington Arts Center; Artworks Trenton; Gallery 219 Trenton; West Windsor Arts Council; Ellarslie Museum; Trenton, among other venues overseas in Russia and Beijing.
In addition, his work has received national recognition, having been reviewed by the New York Times, Visual Arts Journal, Ad Busters, Trenton Times, Phoenix New Times, Bucks County Herald, Princeton Packet, US1 News, Town Topics, Princeton Magazine, The Inteligencier, and more.
Artist Howard Michaels said that he is excited about the show. “The winery has a pleasant atmosphere to show space,” Michaels said. “It’s not a traditional gallery, but the art is displayed in a way that presents a really great show.”
The Common Threads art show will include live music, and light fare, desserts, and wine will be available for purchase. For more information, visit commonthreadsgallery.com.
A piece by artist Andrew Wilkinson.,
