“There is no remedy against the truth of language”
runs April 19 – May 26, 2012
Opening reception Thursday, April 19, 7:00 - 9:30 pm, Artist will be in attendance.
In this solo exhibition that comprises 20 distinct assemblage pieces, Prettie demonstrates his thinking on a range of subjects as they have evolved as discrete pieces yet that fit into an almost linear interconnected progression.
The works range from what seem at first like fairly uncomplicated forms to multi-layered and complex shapes in both opaque and transparent modes that at the same time both hide and direct the attentive adult viewer. Hopefully, many common images from pretzels to cows and icicles to portraiture, as well as familiar images from art history, will never again be viewed in just the same way.
Fairly quickly it becomes obvious as to the importance the artist imparts to text itself, as many pieces are composed entirely of 1/4 inch plastic peel-and-stick letters while carefully chosen writings are used in many of the other works as well.
This realization may move the viewer’s thoughts to analysis of meaning following the lush and even sensual, visual and textual information so obviously in evidence.
As the complete exhibit is taken in over the course of time that the viewer allows, this thinking is shown to apply not just to the pieces themselves but as well to our societies, cultures, institutions and world systems.
Prettie is a rationalist idealist attempting to explore the causes underlying the varieties of the human condition in light of what we know and can know through a scientific study of the real effects of both ancient and recent historical actions.
BIOGRAPHY
William G. Prettie received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in mid-life from the University of Victoria (Kelowna). Since then he has pursued his exploration of the artistic description of questions around the realm of philosophical and sociological interpretation in the light of history as studied empirically. He has called Edmonton home since 2001.
February 10, 2012