faith
BEARDEN Shopper news • JUNE 17, 2013 • A-7
Street scenes Michael Williams’ art makes social, spiritual statement
In this example of Michael Williams’ street art, his painting of a little boy on a cardboard cutout is placed in a field of flowers and arrows. This installation was in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and features a young boy he met at an orphanage. Photos submitted
By Ashley Baker Michael Aaron Williams, 24, wants to influence people worldwide with his artwork. He already has a good start. His artwork has been installed in 13 different countries including England, Austria, Thailand, China, Egypt, Italy, Costa Rica and more. The unusual thing about Williams’ art, however, is that it is not usually found in galleries, although he does have gallery pieces and shows. The other aspect of his work is what he calls his “social experiment” or street art. Williams takes his art work and weaves an installation around it on the street, in marketplaces, at tourist venues – anywhere he feels fits the pieces. “Street art is basically utilizing public space and installing artwork in order for it to interact with the public on the streets rather than solely in a gallery format,” Williams says. “Every culture reacts
differently, and I find that fascinating.” His cardboard cutout artwork is left on the streets, and he hopes to deliver a message through this medium. “Most of the work I put on the street depicts the homeless or street children. It is making the analogy that these street people around the world are fragile and need to be protected and loved or else they will be destroyed by life on the streets.” The work itself is fragile, says Williams. “When I paint a picture of a street child and attach it to a wall, it becomes vulnerable. At any moment, a person could come and tear it down or a storm could destroy it. It is just paint and ink on cardboard, attached to a wall or ground using only heavy duty mounting tape. This makes it vulnerable, but it also gives it hope. If someone really likes the artwork then they can take it off the wall and into their home.”
Called “halo girl,” this piece by Michael Williams was placed on the street in Bangkok, Thailand.
This painting in Malta has a child holding a flower with the Mediterranean Sea as the backdrop.
Williams’ faith is the catalyst for his work. “Nothing satisfies like a relationship with Jesus, and that life seems unfulfilled without loving God
and loving other people,” he explains. “I love artwork that points towards God through symbolism or through creative means. I aim to plant a seed in
someone’s head of an aspect of God.” Williams wants people to search out the meaning in order to leave room for God to interact with them through their relationship with the artwork. For Williams, the mystery of metaphor is part of the experience. “If I figure something out on my own, it sticks with me longer than if someone just lays it all out for me. I think that this is the same reason Jesus taught through parables. He wanted us to dig out that meat that He had hidden in those stories,” says Williams. Williams creates most of his art in his garage which has been transformed into a studio. “I have to wear a coat in the winter and drink lots of water in the summer, but it is a great space,” Williams says. The scope of his art is broad, including painting, drawing, mixed media and even sculptural work. Williams has always loved making things with
his hands. Christian Academy of Knoxville art teacher Barbara Johnson first spotted the potential in Williams and encouraged him to pursue art. Williams took the encouragement and began to create more art. “It wasn’t until I was in high school that I began to create more artwork. And in college is where I became serious about it as a career path.” Continuing to pursue art, Williams attended Samford University to study fine arts and is anticipating starting work toward a master’s in fine arts at Washington University. It was as a student at Samford where he first began to put his art on the streets of Birmingham. Williams hopes to continue to travel with his wife and would like to teach art at the collegiate level. To see more examples of his street art and studio pieces, visit his website at ht t p://m ichaela a rona r t. com.
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■ Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oak Ridge Highway, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, June 19-21. Theme: “Summer Spectacular: The Adventure Squad Returns.” Nightly giveaways. Classes for preschool through 5th grade. Preregistration required at www. gracebc.org. Info: 691-8886. ■ Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 725 Virtue Road, 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, July 7-11. Theme: “Athens: Paul’s Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth.” Classes for ages 3 through 12. Info/register: 966-1491 or virtuecpchurch@tds.net. ■ Westgate Christian Fellowship Church, 1110 Lovell Road, 6-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 24-27, Wild West VBS: “Mystery of the Missing Key.” Ages 4 years through 5th grade. Info: 392-1101 or www.westgatecf.org.
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■ Bookwalter UMC offers One Harvest Food Ministries to the community. Info and menu: http://bookwalter-umc.org/oneharvest/ index.html or 689-3349, 9 a.m.-noon weekdays.
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■ Hardin Valley Church of Christ, 11515 Hardin Valley Road, has moved its open house to August. More information to come. Info: www.hvcoc.org.
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■ Zostavax Clinic for shingles vaccinations, recommended to anyone over the age of 50 to help prevent the painful shingles skin disease, will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the Powell and Fountain City Kroger Pharmacies. There will be free refreshments, blood-pressure screening and a check to ensure that you are up-to-date on your vaccinations. Info: 938-6892 or 686-1022. ■ UT Hospice Adult Grief Support Group meets 5-6:30 p.m. each first and third Tuesday in the UT Hospice office at 2270 Sutherland Ave. A light supper is served. Info or reservation: Brenda Fletcher, 544-6279. ■ UT Hospice, serving patients and families in Knox and 15 surrounding counties, conducts ongoing orientation sessions for adults (18 and older) interested in becoming volunteers with the program. No medical experience is required. Training is provided. Info: Penny Sparks, 544-6279.
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