William King Sculptures – Busy Being Themselves

DISPATCH - Apr 4, 2012 (9:17 p.m.)

RIVERHEAD, NY

There's a lot of long sculptures in Riverhead. A solo show of figurative artwork by William King has taken over the Lyceum Gallery at Suffolk County Community College (and spilling onto the college campus).

Sculpture by William King. Photo courtesy The Lyceum Gallery.

"William King: Inside the Artist's Studio" presents over 20 sculptures inside the gallery and two outside of it. The work was selected from various times in King's career. He has been making art for around 60 years.

King is known for his long, angular and animated sculptures. The works are expressive with uncensored attitude. Figures can be witty, playful, friendly, curious, intense, trouble-causing and more.

They are typically engaged in mid-action. Characters are caught dancing, standing, posturing, playing an instrument or even mid-yell. They can be deep in contemplation or conversation. In short: Each sculpture is very busy being his or herself.

The exhibition came about after co-curators Margery Gosnell-Qua and Beth Giles visited King's studio in East Hampton. Both women are adjunct assistant professors of Visual Arts. Gosnell-Qua is the Lyceum Gallery Coordinator.

During the studio visit, both became entranced at King's "collection of sculptures," recalled Gosnell-Qua.

"Grouped together, King's life-size figures appeared as a riotous party, a 'standing room only' event, or an intermission at a production: top hats, smiles and "Hellos" between business men and Bohemians, acrobats and musicians, politicians and parents," wrote Gosnell-Qua of her impression.

King's workshop was equally compelling, she said. There were shelves of dripping glue, paint jars, wood clamps, dust masks and paint brushes. Sketches, maquettes, completed works and sculptures-in-process are part of the studio's fray. So are sewing machines. King uses them to make the clothes for his sculptures, Gosnell-Qua said.

Clothing can be made of sailcloth, burlap, vinyl, Mylar and more. King even uses Tyvek, Gosnell-Qua said. “A material that perhaps describes the way a business man’s pressed suit wrinkles when worn, or ripples on a windy day while walking across town.

Installation view of "William King: Inside the Artist's Studio" at the Lyceum Gallery. Photo courtesy Lyceum Gallery.

Installation view of "William King: Inside the Artist's Studio." Photo courtesy Lyceum Gallery.

King makes his art from wood, steel and ceramic. Sculptures can be tabletop, life size or monumental. His artworks have been exhibited at The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. King's sculptures are part of permanent collections held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and The Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC.

Outside installation of "William King: Inside the Artist's Studio" at Lyceum Gallery. Photo courtesy of Lyceum Gallery.

Here's the same sculptures installed on the grounds of King's studio:

Sculpture by William King. Photo courtesy Margery Gosnell-Qua.

Sculpture installed at William King's studio. Photo courtesy of Margery Gosnell-Qua.

William King in his East Hampton studio. Photo by Margery Gosnell-Qua.

BASIC FACTS: "William King: Inside the Artist's Studio" is on view through Apr 6 at the Lyceum Gallery in the Montaukett Learning Resource Center at Suffolk County Community College's Eastern Campus in Riverhead. The outside installation remains until Apr 28. For photos and directions, visit www.sunysuffolk.edu

The New York Times published a story on William King and the exhibition: www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/nyregion/william-kings-sculptures-at-the-lyceum-gallery-in-riverhead.html

If you'd like to "meet" William King via video, there's a short movie on his website. The video, artwork images and a brief bio can be found at  www.williamkingsculptor.com/William_King/Movie.html

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