The Art of Bill Hutson: Works in 3D featured at Price Center

Staff Reports

SAN MARCOS, TX – The Art of Bill Hutson is a unique city-wide exhibition celebrating the work of artist and San Marcos native Bill Hutson. As part of the show, the Price Center is featuring a six-piece installation of 3D works by Hutson, the centerpiece of which is Oba’s Room and two studies for the piece. A second 3D work, titled Tactile Series, Study #9 and two studies for it, complete the exhibit. The six works will hang in the Price Center’s Main Parlor Jan. 15 – Feb. 26.

Bill Hutson, Oba II (The Oba’s Room), 1995–1996, acrylic paint on canvas, 40 ? x 39 ? x 3 ? inches. Artwork courtesy of the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College. All rights reserved. Photograph: Madelynn Mesa.

The works on display at the Center are indicative of Hutson’s unique vision and style — combining form, texture, and color in abstract presentations to create deceivingly simple-looking works that examine complex themes and ideas. Acrylic paints, inks, wood, paper, and canvas all factor into his finished works. 

Hutson, born in 1936 and raised in the Dunbar neighborhood of San Marcos, later became one of the most innovative artists of his generation. As a young laborer he found that he disliked farm work and changed over to construction work.  Hutson was, and still is, fascinated with how things are built and work.  His avid interest in learning about structures and how they were put together led to a series of works, including the 6 pieces featured at the Center.   

Hutson spent a year living in Nigeria in the mid-1970’s and was invited to meet the Oba (King) in his palace. The architecture and unique forms inspired Hutson to create Oba’s Room, based on his impressions of the space during the meeting with the Oba. The result is an engaging and lush wall-mounted 3D work celebrating form, architecture, and ornamentation.

Tactile Series, Study #9 and its supporting studies take the viewer on a similar journey using a different subject and palette. This one proves ahead of its time with an interactive component by offering the show’s curator a chance to rearrange the five elements for different compositions.

The five separate and overlapping gallery shows — each featuring different works by Hutson — are on display as follows:

 

The Calaboose African American History Museum

The Art of Bill Hutson: The Opening

January 8–April 2

200 W. Martin Luther King Dr., San Marcos, TX

512-393-8421

 

The Price Center

The Art of Bill Hutson: Works in 3D

January 15 – February 26

222 W. San Antonio St., San Marcos, TX

512-392-2900

 

The San Marcos Art Center

The Art of Bill Hutson: Image of Scorpius

January 12–March 20

117 N. Guadalupe St., San Marcos, TX

512-679-5059

 

Texas State Galleries

The Art of Bill Hutson: Homestead

September 15– May 18

233 West Sessom, San Marcos, TX

512-245-2647

 

Walkers’ Gallery @ the San Marcos Public Library

The Art of Bill Hutson: Trees are never finished. . .

January 12 – April 9

625 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos, TX

512-393-8200

The collaboration is the first of its kind between all these separate arts entities in San Marcos. It is being made possible through the support of the San Marcos Arts Commission, the City of San Marcos, the San Marcos Public Library, the Phillips Museum of Art, and Bill Hutson. Planning is underway for a reception for the show. For more information, please visit https://www.visitsanmarcos.com/billhutson/

A companion community art show titled Home features works by area artists based on their interpretation of the meaning of home. The show hangs throughout the first floor of the Center through Feb. 26 and many of the works are for sale.

Art Shows are created, curated, and conducted by the Price Center Arts Committee and funded in part through a grant from the San Marcos Arts Commission.

For more information about art shows at the Price Center, please call 512-392-2900, stop by the Center at 222 W. San Antonio St., or visit price-center.org or Facebook @ Price Center & Garden.