William Attaway, otherwise known simply as Attaway, is a name synonymous with Venice Beach, California. Hailing from Barbados and calling his home of Venice since 1979 "the closest thing he's found to the islands," Attaway has been working with ceramics, painting and sculpture on a scale few have attempted. Attaway is creating a myriad of works, both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional, for the solo-exhibition Attaway premiering June 28, 2008, at Swiv Tackle Circus Gallertique. Artist in Attendance.
Attaway will also premier his 100% organic, limited edition clothing collection for Lewsader. This collection is comprised of 3 styles, 40 units per design, numbered and hand signed by the artist.
Over hiscareer, Attaway has worked with city planners, politicians, corporations, youth and community groups, as well as being active in the restoration of arts in the Los Angles public schools.
In 1993 Attaway received his first public installation from the city of Pomona to create three massive ceramic columns surrounded by intricate mosaic seating. The theme of these columns is Past, Present, Future, which reflects the rich multicultural heritage of Los Angeles.
In 1995 he was honored by the United Nations to create three installations for the opening ceremonies of the global conference, Environmental Sustainability, painting several fifteen foot paintings entitled Recycle, Restore, as well as creating a giant Copper Man which was made from refuse material found on the site of the conference. Officials from around the globe gathered under his creations to discuss the world's environmental future.
In 1996 Attaway helped create The Venice Clay Works, a non-profit job training program teaching ceramic and mosaic skills. This program has covered most of Venice schools with beautiful mosaics and murals. No matter the project, Attaway included at risk youth, stating, "We must pass on our skills and knowledge to the children of our community, this is the only way to help our people overcome their circumstances and create hope where all hope is lost."
In 1999 he completed the sculpture and mosaics for the renovation of the Historic Venice Ocean Front Walk. Dreams Come True is a twenty-five foot ceramic sculpture, inspired by Los Angeles' journey to find its own identity, which sits majestically in front of the police station and children's' play area on the famed Venice boardwalk. Along with this epic piece, he covered the exterior walls of three public restroom facilities who's theme was the Running of the Grunion, an annual event in which millions of fish lay their eggs along the southern California coast line. During the time of creation, Attaway was instrumental in keeping skateboarding legal on the boardwalk and now his vessel serves as a beacon for one of the grandest skate destinations in Venice.
As a result of his many contributions to the culture and community of Los Angeles, Attaway was included in planning and creating the visual art for the first Urban Peace Awards honoring peacemakers in the prison system and on the streets like The Amer-I-Can Foundation, The Community Self Determination Institute, former State Senator Tom Hayden and Barrios Unidos to name a few, he created ceramic eggs for the honorees and transformed the ballroom into a work of art, actually carving the mahogany podium by hand. Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte hosted the evening.
For the 35th NAACP Image Awards, Attaway created the set design where Dave Matthews and The Rootz performed live. He also Art Directed "Free to Fly" video with David Kirton that won the Barbados Music Award in 2007 for "best video" as well as Kirton winning for "best new artist" and "best song".
In 2007, he created the interior artwork for Herbie Hancock's Grammy Award winning album, "River : The Joni Letters". He is currently working on the upcoming play 'Funk It Up About Nothin'', slated to premier June 25, 2008 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Attaway counts Beyoncé, Will I. Am, Sidney Poitier, Kimora Lee Simmons, Danny Glover, Djimon Hunsou, Cedric the Entertainer, Don Cheadles, Elizabeth Montgomery & Whoopi Goldberg as collectors.
"The graceful curves and bodacious beings are reminiscent of a Rubenesque beauty, thick in their volume & gestures yet graceful in their clarity & focus. These sculptures are large scale, hailing over 8 feet tall and superb in their soft, approachable quality, looming over the viewer like a gigantic world...waiting to be explored. You know the gardens smell sweet and the air is fruity in the land of Attaway.
It is difficult to not be caught in the spell of the artist's method. Attaway hails from the island of Barbados, the primary colors, use of sweeping brushstrokes coupled with the robust presence of Mother Nature recalls a purity of essence. To know oneself is to know an Attaway painting, the unassuming quality approaches the viewer in an absolute manner. Beckoning to be looked into as much as gazed upon, it is difficult to not see one's own mother in these creations due to the soft, warm presence glowing within each figure.
Attaway puts himself into the painting. Each brushstroke and color gesture are steeped in abundance, similar to the Abstract Expressionists where the size of each paint stroke or drip was equal to oneself, Attaway categorizes a full, sumptuous approach to his figures embracing an artist's life and having no fear.
We are thrilled to bring this exhilarating artist to Swiv Tackle Circus"
- Desirée Dawn Kuhn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swivtacklecircus/sets/72157606009429418/
