Art is a very subjective thing. What looks perfect hanging
above the fireplace mantle to one person is only suitable to the nearest
Dumpster for another. As someone who loves all forms of art and also has thrown
away his own work, I feel somewhat qualified to discuss everything in between.Too many people overanalyze artwork, trying to probe deep within the artist’s soul to find hidden meaning behind the images. My favorite artist of the 20th century, Marcel Duchamp, was noted as much for his sense of humor in poking fun of the former as for his brilliance with a paint brush.
My favorite artist of the 21st century has lived in Andrews most of his life. He opened a sign-painting business in 1990, then expanded in 2002 with a music and book store at 1025 Main St. And in the midst of a recession that has forced many businesses large and small to close shop, he’s still growing. I met Dean Williams in 1982, when we both were on the crew that opened the first Long John Silver’s restaurant in Murphy. (Scott Turner, now owner and chef extraordinaire at Turner’s Skillets downtown, also was a part of that infamous staff; ask him to cook a box of shrimp sometime.) Even though I’ve been an admirer of his work for 27 years, I’m still amazed at his creativity and drive.
Today, Dean – a cubist along the lines of Braque and Picasso when we met – considers himself to be more of a folk, or outsider, artist. He forsakes traditional mediums like oil on canvas and instead works almost exclusively on recycled objects, primarily odd-shaped wood he sands down, then brings up to life.
“I usually avoid labels that are designed to categorize artists into styles or movements,” Dean said. “Perhaps that’s just my rebellious nature. As a process of illumination, most of the art that has caught my attention in recent years has fallen under outsider art and folk art.”
With bluesman T-Model Ford playing bottleneck guitar in the background, he described what that means to him.
“Outsider artists work on the fringes of mainstream society and create out of personal obsession rather than formal training. Outsider art can be the work of prisoners, the mentally ill, even children. In many cases, the outsider artist does not even consider their works to be art. Outsider art could be drawings of the artist’s dreams in a diary or the faces of blues singers painted with nail polish on bowling shoes,” Dean said.
“Folk art is often equated with outsider art and distinctions are often blurred, except that folk art is usually more connected to an established tradition. Folk art is often created with practical motives, such as blacksmithing or broom making. Folk art, as well as outsider art, also can be classified as visionary art. Examples of folk art could be lamps made out of beer cans or American flags made out of wooden matches.”
Dean doesn’t just want you to visit the store and bring home one of his paintings – he wants you to create art of your own. He’s willing to help, from showing off your good stuff in his informal gallery to donating a recycled object to help you get started. Just give him a call at 321-2338.
“I’m looking for outsider artists, folk artists and the deadbeats of society who think they can make something cool. Pottery, wood carvings and art made from recycled materials are especially welcomed,” Dean said, before adding in his wry way, “Please, no wooden ducks made from the Wally-World craft department. Hopefully, you’ll make a few bucks and I’ll make a few bucks in the process.”
-Story By:David Brown