Willis Tribe, Early
Period - 1968-82?
( See also, Willis Tribe,
Late Period & Avalon Bakery)
Willis Gallery - Bradley Jones,
Ellen Phelan, Ron Winokur, Nancy Mitchnick and Douglas James
February, 1972
I chose the name Willis Tribe, based on the
Fine Art individuals who exhibited, interacted, or associated with the
early manifestation of the Willis Gallery on Willis when it was a
co-op, of which Dan Moriarity was the director.
I denote the end of this era when Jackie Feigenson - then director
of the co-op - dissolves the Willis Co-op, and it is transformed into a
private gallery with Jackie as owner. By this time, many of the original
individuals have moved out of town or can be considered as being
associated with later tribes.
|
John Egner pouring enamel on masonite, 1972. |
During
the time John Egner taught
painting at Wayne State University, there were not many of his
students who could say that he did not have a strong impact on
their thought process, their lives or their work. His approach
to the World was gentle, yet he could be deceptively insistent
when it came to putting across an idea or concept.
Moving to New York, he eventually tired of the continual flights
back and forth.
John now lives in Downtown New York with his wife Linda, and they
have a place upstate.
Photo by Gary Cooperman |
This is an incredibly exciting time and
place. Two of my art instructors from Hull
Regional College of Art, England (1971-74) recommended I attempt
to get into Wayne State University Fine
Art Department for further education, because they were aware of the
energy going down in the Corridor at that time, and as I was to learn, what
they told me was indeed true. It was very exciting, watching the
energy of Willis Tribe, but even at this time (1975) the demise was
already evident. Many of the members were beginning to migrate to other
more 'culturally aware' cities, such as New York.
Nonetheless, the force of impact it had on evolving Cass tribes cannot be
underestimated.
SG
I remember my first
day in Lithography Printmaking back in '76. Aris was on his last
term at in the Art department at Wayne, and was moving over to CCS
to teach painting there.
His approach to teaching lithography was casual and effective. He
stripped away the technical mysteries, where other instructors
would steep the process in obfuscation.
Aris was a member of the
Printing Co-op and exhibits on a regular basis in New York. |
1972, Aris Koutroulis with "Poetic Electricity"
Photo by Gary Cooperman |
David Snow says, "I
remember the gallery being run by Dan Moriarity who died in NY sometime in
the 70's,but There was a selection committee in the early 70's that
included for a while at least Jerry Hunt, Dayton
Spence, Maybe Bradlee but
rotated I think. My first show there was in the fisher bldg with Jackie as
the hired director. In the show were Mike Schneider, Keith Aoki, Glenn
Booth and David Phillips. When Jackie partnered up with Judy Rosenstein it
seems like the Willis moved back down to the original spot and there were
a couple of political shows. I was in one there about US intervention in
Nicaragua called Artists Call in 1984. I'm in Portland Me. at Davidinportland@msn.com"
Many of the Artists worked in Common Ground, corner of Cass and Willis,
which used to be a Purple Gang garage in the '30's
Photo by Gary Cooperman
Gilda
Snowden offers a list
of Artists who were exhibiting while she was Art Director if the Willis.
(1983-84)
Known tribe members:
- Herron, Theresa
- Sestok , Bob
- John Piet
- Christine Piet
- John
Egner
- Michael Schneider
- Betsy Meyers Green
- Kathryn Bracket Luchs
- Gorden Newton
- Gary
Grimshaw
- Michael Luchs
- John Hegarty
- Glen Mannisto
- Deb King
- Dave Chambers
- Dayton Spence
- Jerry Hunt
- Tommy Ford
- Barnie Surowitz
- David
Snow
- Frank Izola
- Cynthia Laverty
- George Rupert
- Roy Castleberry
- Colin Fraser
- Bill Antonow
- Sally Chambers
- Mary Ann Cameron
- Suzy Raisig
- Bob Benedict
- Patty Benedict
- Bill Waters
- Diane Livingston
- Cathy Hardy
- Aris Koutroulis
- Barbara Greene
- Peg Filiatrault
- David Weiss
- Gregory Boerner
- Gary
Andrews
- Dave
Oullette
- Peter
Werbe
- Marilyn
Werbe
- Aurthur
Wenk
- Sandy
Wenk
- Alden
Smith
- Robert
Cobb
- Keith
Schiller
- John
Slick
- Karen Sepanski
- Bob
Hanamura
- Joel
Landy
- Bill
McLain
- Gregory
Grenon
- Lynn
'Bones' Bonner
- Tom
Mieczkowski
- Bob
Sherba
- Doug Larkins
- MacArthur Binion
- Jim Chatlain
- John Bruno
- Mary Beth Tupper
- Pam Haliday
- Doug Haliday
- Brent Spoelstra
- Ruth Goldfaden
- Lynne Resch
- Gilda
Snowden
-
David & Roslyn
- More?
Known to be Deceased
|
Links:
Willis Gallery Posters on Matthew Hanna's website
|