William Wiley
Mills College Art Museum
William Wiley’s exhibition at Mills College Art Museum consists of paintings, constructions and poetry. The entire exhibition has an introspective feeling, but one is really unable to discern what form the introspection is taking. A piece entitled Art Through the Ages is made of that venerable history of art by Helen Gardner sewn up in a canvas bag and covered with beeswax. It is one of a series of constructed objects dealing with locked or sealed books. Wiley’s continuing concern for the paraphernalia of the art world is further exposed by a piece entitled The Red Easel. The easel in this case