De/Faced
"To deface is to spoil the appearance of something. But in the moment of defacing a wall there is a simultaneous act of creation of a new visual entity…an ephemeral work of art. Interestingly, creating that new art frequently includes the representation of a face in one artistic form or another. Faces are one of the most common visual icons seen on walls and declare the presence of people…one proof of life in the city.
Faces on a city wall are, metaphorically “selfies” created without a camera and are part of the composition and mystery of each wall I photograph."
~ Bill Wishner
"End the War"
Los Angeles 2011
"he held out his hand each day but he never seemed to collect enough to get off the wall"
San Francisco
"free humanity...drink more beer"
Miami
Brief Biography
wwishner@gmail.com
www.billwishner.com
A longtime resident of Pasadena currently living in Old Town.
Bill’s life in art started in photography more than 25 years ago focusing on music (jazz). His jazz photographs have been part of multiple exhibits. He was co-editor (with Bill Minor) of the 40th Anniversary book for the Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years, Angel City Press, 1997).
Starting in 2011, as a Visual Hunter, he turned his creative lens on the urban environment in cities around the world. The project, entitled “Artifacts: Art of the City Wall” focuses on transformative visual art of urban walls.
“Artifacts” (Acuity Press, Pasadena 2018) was the first publication from this series.
A second publication “De/Faced” will be released Fall 2019.
“Artifacts: Art of the City Wall” / Solo & Group Shows
University of Southern California / Los Angeles CA / “I Don’t Explain / 2015”
Union Gallery / Pasadena CA / “Art of the City Wall” / 2016
AC Gallery / Los Angeles CA / “Post No Bills” / 2017
Girdner Gallery / Pasadena CA / “Art of the City Wall” (New York-Berlin) 2018
Photo Independent / LA / 2016-17
X-Contemporary / Miami FL /2016
Photo LA / Los Angeles CA / 2017
AC Gallery / Miami FL 2017
Forest & Ocean Gallery / Laguna Beach CA / 2018
Girdner Gallery / Pasadena CA 2019 / “Art of the City Wall – De/Faced”
In 2007 Bill founded “f8 Pasadena Salon,” exploring the aesthetics and art of photography. f8 Pasadena meets weekly. http://f8pasadenasalon.weebly.com
In 2012 he founded and is Co-Director of “PasadenaPhotographyArts” dedicated to promoting photography and helping emerging photographers in the Pasadena-East Los Angeles area. http://pasadenaphotographyarts.org
PasadenaPhotographyArts has two ongoing programs: Open Show and Forum. Both programs are based at the Armory Center for the Arts. PasadenaPhotographyArts is part of the EMERGE Program of Fulcrum Arts here in Pasadena.
Bill currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.
