We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.

Michael , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up with a famous Hollywood animator father i was inclined to be in touch with an artistic perspective but which I ignored for years until my 50’s.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I always wanted to promote art to others and started a gallery ‘Ground Floor’ in Pasadena,CA 1980’s with another artist. Assemblage & Found Object was the inclination and over time that accelerated.. Taking classes from Art Center teachers certainly helped get centered. Later after meeting my wife artist Susan Spencer we started ‘The Beat Gallery’ in Ukiah, CA and displayed and sold other artists as well. We continue to run the this gallery now from our ranch in Philo, California Mendocino County.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In 1908 Apollinaire had moved ‘toward freedom in assembling a poem out of disparate parts’. In its structure, assemblage is like an abstract painting and constructivist sculpture but moves away from these art forms because its elements may be charged and identifiable. Thirty different components can compete in one assemblage to effect a fluid emotion. For the real artist, it is a liberating creative method, using untried variables in different sequencing in a state of randomness and disorder. Seemingly unfitting, these objects, articles and discards must be formed into a union of parts in the ensemble. These lost and found objects can never be preordained because the artist must ‘play with’ elements by placing objects around until the essence of the pieces and what transpires between them is discovered by the artist. What occurs after disorder is organization of dissimilar objects. The ultimate outcome is a sort of homogenous transformation. We as artists are never fully cognizant of our intentions until the ‘magic’ happens. Things fall into place. After that it is time for adhesion, putting the work together. What the work communicates is up to the viewer. Sometimes the artist may have specific intent with regard to form and symbol. Mostly though it is free expression and abstraction of objects and ideas.

As with much art there is a series of adjustments, while at other times there may be a simultaneous harmony where everything comes into play quite rapidly. Oftentimes mistakes can lead you on a new path and a new development. Common objects begin to form the dynamics of a certain cohesion with a new life for these discards and found objects much like a poetic development.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Everyone should support each other as artists without judging and sharing information on ideas and process. Start art groups/guilds and join local community art forums. Study other artists to ‘see’ but always be true to yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.assemblageartists.wordpress.com

Image Credits
Michael Hunt Wilson