A contemporary L.A. artist said he is “tipping his hat” to those who came before him by featuring antique photographs in his work.
On Saturday, the Fowler Museum at UCLA’s “Fowler on the Town,” a series that integrates exhibitions with events related to the art, artist being featured or both, presented a combination studio visit and workshop with Matjames Metson in conjunction with the exhibition of his work currently at the museum.
Metson’s work is featured in the current exhibit at the Fowler Museum, “Sinful Saints and Saintly Sinners at the Margins of the Americas,” with art from more than 20 artists. Three of Metson’s pieces are featured.
On Saturday, all of the guests and curator Patrick Polk met at the Fowler Museum and then took a bus to Metson’s personal studio, where most of his work is and where the workshop took place.
Metson works in three dimensions with found objects, specifically antique photographs. The objects are assembled into larger pieces of art, such as chairs or wall hangings. Much of Metson’s work includes 100-year-old photographs framed by found objects, such as old pencils or popsicle sticks.
Polk said that at the Fowler Museum, the curators are always trying to find ways to bring the audience closer to the art, and Metson’s living in Los Angeles presented an opportunity for guests to visit Metson’s studio in person.
“Metson’s art lends itself well to a workshop like this because assemblage art is somewhat accessible to everyone,” Polk said. “But (it also shows) how difficult it is to do what Metson does and to create such sophisticated pieces.”
The event was an opportunity for guests to see years of Metson’s work in his studio and to work with him. Metson encouraged guests to bring found items of their own – things they saw beauty in that others might not have – and photographs of their own to use in the art that they made during the workshop.
Metson grew up in Charlottesville, N.Y., which he describes as a “ghost town.” In abandoned houses and around town, Metson found old photographs and many other items that he saw artistic potential in.
“Ever since I was young I had the ability to find things and see beauty in them that other people didn’t,” Metson said.
At the workshop, people worked with found objects, Metson’s usual medium. Before the workshop, he said he would not be giving much specific direction because he didn’t want to cramp anyone’s artistic style.
“I (wanted) to create a clean well-lit space for people to, not mimic, but create art with my style in mind as inspiration” Metson said.
Metson said part of the purpose of his art is to recognize and respect the people in the photographs he uses. He hopes that people who came to the workshop explored these photographs and items in a way they hadn’t before.
Mat Gleason, Metson’s art dealer and founder and owner of Coagula Curatorial, an art gallery in Los Angeles, said he doesn’t usually deal with three-dimensional work, but Metson’s work stood out to him.
“Metson is an accomplished artist relative to making sophisticated compositions and understanding how to put materials together in a way that isn’t just random,” Gleason said.
His art may be complex, but Metson’s goal for the workshop was simple.
“I hope people (came) away from the workshop relaxed and calm,” Metson said. “And also with a sense of nostalgia of the mystery of the world.”