A 'Simple' Piece of Paper

For an artist, a blank piece of paper has limitless possibilities.

So when gallery director Tressa Williams decided that her current show at the George Billis Gallery will feature works only on paper and will be called—guess what?—"On Paper," one might not know what to expect.

The reason for a show on paper, said Williams, is to "introduce some young artists to our gallery collectors and present new works on paper by our current gallery artists." She adds, "I find works on paper fascinating--there is an immediacy to them that sets them apart."

At the show's opening night on Saturday, artists explained the inspiration for their work to eager onlookers. For example, Tony Brown's cut-outs might seem like simplistic silhouettes, but Brown painstakingly took old magazine clippings and removed all features, signs of commercialism or fashion from each piece of paper, and what the viewer is left with is an outline of shades of black and white.

"I use an Exacto knife to get the shapes I want, but you still get these small tears and rips," Brown said while pointing to one of his pieces. "The paper is just sort fibrous and it's a nice tactile response from it all."

Artist Carol Es, a George Billis gallery veteran, has a piece entitled "More of Everything," where a collection of simple line figures crowds the foreground. When looking closer, I saw that there were dolls, rainbows, a syringe, prescription pills and a few other items that wouldn't be found in a child's toy box.

"My work tends to be more honest when it's on paper," said Es, who has been featured at the George Billis Gallery for the last six years.

Es adds that she doesn't come from an academic background with her work, so she "kind of has that 'I make art for everybody' attitude–not just for the esoteric person."

Every work I saw at the George Billis was a surprise, taking me from my initial perception of a given piece to its actual meaning. Maybe that is what Williams wanted in the first place.

I mention that one artist is "non-threatening" and Williams responded thus, "I wouldn't say non-threatening, but the close you get to the work, you'll see something more."

"On Paper" will be on display until September 4.

George Billis Gallery

2716 S. La Cienega Blvd., Culver City 90034 

Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free