Michael g. williams:

Une Mèche

 
 

February 4-27, 2024

FIRST WEDNESDAY OPENING: Feb 5, FROM 6 - 9PM

ARTICULATE ARTIST TALK: SUNDAY, Feb 9, AT 4PM.

NORMAL GALLERY HOURS: TUE - SUN, 12PM - 6PM

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Michael G. Williams was born in Tidewater Virginia in 1971. It is here he developed his love for the outdoors and his love of art. In 1996 he moved to Fairbanks Alaska where he lived for eight years. In that time, he explored the vast expanses of the Alaskan wilderness and used this exploration as inspiration for his artwork. He earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2003. Michael relocated to Baton Rouge Louisiana in 2004 and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 2008. In Louisiana, his exploration of the swamps of the Atchafalaya basin and his interest in the barrier islands of the Gulf Coast became the focal point of his master’s thesis. 

My work reflects a deep connection to and exploration of the natural world. Over the past twenty-five years, I've drawn inspiration from the diverse landscapes of central Alaska, southern Louisiana, and various watersheds across the world. This fascination with the wilderness led me to the saltwater marshes of south Louisiana, a region undergoing profound change due to decisions made long ago. 

Une Mèche, the cajun french for a marsh, is born from my experiences over the past sixteen years in south Louisiana. My art is rooted in the things I encounter and this body of work focuses specifically on saltwater marshes, inspired by two central subjects: the paupière, a traditional shrimping platform in the marshes north of Terrebonne Bay, and the red drum fish. The paupière, which is still in use today, is vanishing along with the landscape, embodying both the passage of time and the fragility of these traditions. Meanwhile, the red drum, a key species in coastal Louisiana, faces decline as a resource for both subsistence and sport fishermen. 

Through this body of work, I aim to call attention to the shifting landscape, acting as a bridge between past and present ways of life. Using simple, reclaimed, and cast materials, my designs speak to the labor, the passage of time, and the enduring traditions tied to these places.” - Williams

Currently, Michael lives in Thibodaux Louisiana where he is an Associate Professor of Art at Nicholls State University teaching Sculpture. He continues to spend his summers in Alaska and to travel abroad collecting experiences. Michael uses these adventures, landscapes, and experiences to inform his works of art.

This exhibition is presented alongside the latest works from Malaika Favorite, and Tom Richard. All works from these artists are on view, free of charge, during regular gallery hours (12 - 6 p.m., Tue - Sun) from February 4 - 27, 2024.


works on view coming soon!