Gallery Eleven One, William Butler, Contemporary Art Studio and Gallery
“In addition to studio & commissioned art, William Butler also creates live art. Each live art experience is unique and tailored to the message and theme of the event. William paints many distinct layers on the canvas transforming the painting many times before completion. In about 60 minutes (although this time varies based on the venue), the painting is complete. Although the finished art is awe inspiring, it is the process involved in the live painting that makes the experience even more remarkable.” – Gallery Eleven One website
October’s 3rd Thursday my art friends Lilliana and Joseph Didovic took me to visit artist William Butler in his art gallery/ studiio in Camden, NJ. And when we arrived the artist was in the midst of painting a large canvas at one end of the gallery and people were gathered all around, sitting on the floor and steps, very quietly, and watching Butler paint. Kids and adults watched while the artist first swiftly painted rainbow stripes of wet paint – the action and brushwork as performance is informative, accessible and illuminating. He then blended the stripes onto a subtler transition of color fields to create the background of the painting. After that was finished with great flourish, paint spattered everywher, a large stencil was placed over the wet painting and more color was liberally applied to the resistant layer. When he pulled away the stencil, the audience applauded, the message LOVE PHL CMDN was revealed.
Gallery Eleven One, William Butler, Contemporary Art Studio and Gallery with his very wet painting which he insisted was incomplete. He planned to add the Benjamin Franklin Bridge between the dual skyline. The use of the CMDN logo reflects the artist investment in the revitalization of Camden Cultural life. Located right near Rutgers Stedman Gallery with a fabulous view of the college sports fields and the Bridge with it’s multimedia light show, the refurbished former firehouse is beautiful and spacious. Created to paint, exhibit, entertain and perform, the gallery is sleek and contemporary. Butler is looking to bridge the social and cultural streams of information and create some harmony with art, painting live isn’t just teaching, it’s entertaining and feeds off the energy of what performance art can be.
Gallery Eleven One, William Butler, Contemporary Art Studio and Gallery, LOVE PHL CMDN
Gallery Eleven One is located near the Camden waterfront, October 8th was the 2nd anniversary of opening the art space. DoN chatted with Ronja Butler about the event they were hosting in the art gallery.
“This is our 3rd Thursday in the city of Camden, so, it’s a 3rd Thursday art crawl that’s been happening about a year and half now, my goodness. And it brings people out to enjoy the art, many venues join up and so it becomes a real celebration in the city of Camden. Also, we’re honored to be partnered with Design Philadelphia, for their festival, so William is painting live. We are very honored to be part of that festival , they’re wonderful people and we’re very proud the chose us to be part. This piece is incorporating not only the live art that William does off but the design aspect. Part of what he does, too – he’s a graphic designer – he uses a lot of those design elements when he’s doing this artform. It’s kind of a wonderful marriage of putting them both together. Right now we’re seeing one layer, and then another one and it will just keep transforming.” – Ronja Butler
Gallery Eleven One, William Butler, Contemporary Art Studio and Gallery, Tide, acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 30″, POR
Gallery Eleven One, William Butler, Contemporary Art Studio and Gallery
Gallery Eleven One, William Butler, Contemporary Art Studio and Gallery, Illuminate Love, acrylic on canvas, 48″ x 48″, POR
Gallery Eleven Onee is a contemporary art gallery & studio located in Camden, New Jersey. When you enter Gallery Eleven One, you will experience beautiful art in an engaging and inspiring setting. The studio/gallery is located in a historic landmark–a fully-restored 1906 firehouse. Gallery Eleven One is located in the charming Cooper Grant neighborhood on the Rutgers campus (next to the Rutgers soccer field and park) near the Camden Waterfront. It is only 1.5 blocks from the Campbells Field/Camden Riversharks stadium. We have safe and secure off-street parking and free one hour parking right next to the gallery. Additional metered parking is located near the studio and gallery throughout the neighborhood.
Gallery Eleven One, Contemporary Art Studio $ Gallery, Firehouse #6, 339 North Front Street, Historic Cooper-Grant Neighborhood, on the campus of Rutgers University.
Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I am glad DoN has finally had the opportunity to not only see William Butler’s art but the art in the making!
I met William Butler a little over a year ago at his studio, just he and I talking about his art, his purpose of being Camden and his connection to the community through the arts.
William’s work is truly awesome to view, large and usually very colorful abstract paintings which took my breath away. He is wonderful, friendly guy each time I see him at art events, he remembers my name and always has time to chat…
Camden is a lucky place to have such an artist and community minded person!
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