Untitled (Willis Poster)
Artist
James Crawford
(American, born 1944)
Date1972
MediumLithograph, spray paint,
DimensionsPaper Size: 22 × 30 in. (55.9 × 76.2 cm)
Image Size: 21 × 29 in. (53.3 × 73.7 cm)
ClassificationsPrint
Object numberUAC6482
DescriptionBorn in Hillsdale, MI, James Crawford was never far from making art. As a young student he received Scholastic Art Awards and was selected for advanced visual art classes. He grew up to study art at Michigan State University for the first two years of his undergraduate degree before transferring to Wayne State University. During his time in Detroit, he was a part of the Cass Corridor era, which is a notable influence in his work through his visible interest in intellectualism and the industrial landscape.During the time he spent at Wayne State University, Crawford studied art history, drawing, printmaking, photography, painting, and sculpture, being mentored and nurtured by John Egner and Aris Koutroulis. The interdisciplinary approach Crawford takes to his work reflects a conceptual, thoughtful background. Heart, soul, and the exploration of paradigm are elements that are consistent within Crawford's artistic practice. How does one person interpret something versus the person standing next to them? Where are the idiosyncrasies? Crawford looks for the nuances in mundane, everyday objects, elevating them from the same-old things we see over and over into art.
In making his work, Crawford stated in a press release for the Willis Gallery in 1972 "Integrity is how and why and where these forms exist," says the artist. "It's my intentions to have you see this integrity, too." Focusing on abstract shapes and forms as a language to express ideas and feelings about light, spirit, and perceptual experiences, Crawford chips away at the mysteries and the questions that go along with the human condition, looking for the essence and truth behind these uncertainties.
In 'Untitled (Willis Poster)', the work is advertising a solo exhibition Crawford had at the Willis Gallery. It is a lithographed image of one of Crawford's 'found' pile sculptures, with the details of the exhibition spray painted over it in green, red, and blue. There is something enigmatic about this image, leaving the viewer to wonder what is actually going on behind the text. This touches on some of the paradoxes Crawford likes to touch on in his work, such as an object that looks very familiar and yet you still aren't sure what it is.
Text by Emily Lane Borden
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