Namon Bills - Art

Homage

2011-03-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

I curated and participated in “Homage,” a group exhibition held March 18-April 28, 2011 at the Rio Gallery in Salt Lake. The exhibit included 30 artists, each of whom chose someone who has influenced their life and work to pay tribute to. I chose German collage artist Kurt Schwitters
I posted photos on my website: www.namonbillsart.com

Cigar Box Fundraiser

2010-07-08T12:55:00.001-07:00

I'm participating in this year's Cigar Box Fundraiser at Kayo Gallery in Salt lake City. This was a fun new challenge to think in 3D. Here is my cigar box, a tribute to Joseph Cornell.

L'Hotel Paradis
mixed media assemblage, 5.5x3x7.75"

Angels in the Architecture

2010-05-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Organizing and curating a group show seems to have become a yearly pastime (or obsession?) for me. This year's installment is "Angels in the Architecture." The show involved 12 artists who were invited to respond to the theme of "Angels in the Architecture" in any way they saw fit. The show was held at Art Access Gallery in Salt Lake, April 16-May 14, 2010. Below are some installation shots, as well as images of my work for the show.

Angel 1
mixed media, 34"x53"

Angel 2
mixed media, 34"x51"

300 Plates 2010

2010-05-17T12:43:00.001-07:00

I was once again invited to participate in 300 Plates at Art Access this year. Plates are 10"x11". Here are my plates for this year, mixed media, of course.

Works on Paper

2010-05-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

During 2009 I created a series of works on paper. These were primarily formal and experimental in nature. I wanted to try my collage technique (of building up layers of collage and sanding into them) on paper, which I had previously assumed was impossible. While painting is still a major element in the final work, I wanted to establish a better balance between collage and painting, so that the collage was a more important part of the finished piece, instead of getting almost completely obscured by paint as has been my tendency in the past. Each of these is 13"x21", mixed media on BFK Rives Tan paper.

300 Plates

2009-05-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

300 Plates is an annual fundraiser show for Art Access, a nonprofit gallery in Salt Lake that focuses on providing art opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. I participated in this show in 2007,e a and was invited to participate again this year. All of the artwork is done on 10x11" recycled aluminum litho plates. Her are the three plates I did this year.

The 9 Muses

2009-04-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

The 9 Muses is a collaborative exhibit involving 9 visual artists and 9 poets. Each poet wrote nine poems, one for each muse. Each artist then received nine poems, one from each poet and one about each muse, with the assignment to create a work of art in response to each poem. The exhibit of 81 poems and 81 paintings was first displayed at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center in February 2009. A book containing all of the poetry and artwork in full color was published by Black Rock Books of Salt Lake.

Poets participating in the project are Lynne Benson, Brian Gray, Lisa Gustavson, Ethan Higbee, Darlene Johnson, David Knowlton, Eileen MacCabe, Shawn Stradley and Ashley Walton. Artists are Tom Aaron, Namon Bills, Linnie Brown, Sandy Brunvand, Chad Crane, Denise Gasser, Steph Johnsen, Steven Stradley and Justin Wheatley.

Calliope
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Melpomene
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Clio
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Thalia

18"x18" mixed media on panel

Erato

18"x18" mixed media on panel

Urania
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Euterpe
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Terpsichore
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Polyhymnia
18"x18" mixed media on panel

Layered Dialogue

2009-04-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

Steven Stradley and I had a two-person show at Tanner Frames in Salt Lake in Novebmer 2008. We both did individual work -- mine was "Salt Lake Alphabet" -- and did a couple collaborative pieces, below.

Unsign Language

42"x42" mixed media on panel

Negative Development

44.5"x44.5" mixed media on panel

State Street Project

2009-04-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

The State Street Project involved eight Utah artists. We traveled Highway 89 from the Idaho border to the Arizona border and created an exhibit based on the experience. Each artist created their own work in response to the experience. The show traveled around Utah in 2008, showing in Salt Lake, Provo, Bountiful, Kanab, Springville and Logan.

Classic
31.5"x44.5" mixed media on panel

Bird
129"x27.5" mixed media on panel

Towne
32.5"x44.5" mixed media on panel

Ampersand

34"x34" mixed media on panel