Michigan artist, Alvey Jones, is a painter, printmaker and creator of artists' books.
Windows: Painting, Assemblage and Video, his new exhibit of 3-dimensional collaged assemblages at WSG Gallery, is yet another means for being a storyteller. Jones explains, "[these] are windows onto a world-my world". Jones has combined various smaller works to make larger pieces, providing viewers with much to study and consider. Using mixed media, mainly paintings, prints and handmade books, he constructs a collection of several individual pieces that are combined into a single structure. Each component of the assemblage is part of a collection that relates the story that Jones has chosen to tell. "They are partly biographical-I start with an idea, and experimenting with different media, create elements and images about me and my background." The result is an intriguing montage of artworks, each a part of the narration. Library, one of his assemblages being shown displays a history of books he's made over the years, with 18 removable 4"x5" artist books, each 50-100 pages containing artwork and text. Another piece, entitled Windows, is comprised of four separate paintings depicting different thoughts mounted in an old window frame. Jones comments, "Windows are everywhere. They may be literal. metaphorical or imagined … They allow us to look in, but also keep us out. The artwork here does both. Welcome to my world." A video recording eight-months of the artist's creative process building the works for the show will also be part of this exhibit.
Jones' background as an art history professor, professional artist, graphic designer and software engineer precluded his current career as a full-time artist.
Jones' work has been in scores of national exhibitions dating back to the mid 80's; he has won numerous awards and is included in many public and private collections. His artists' books can be found in the Special Collections Department of the Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan.
Windows, an exhibit of the assemblages of Alvey Jones is free and open to the public at the
WSG Gallery,306 S. Main until Saturday, October 19. 734-761-2287. wsg-art.com
