It’s My Fault; It’s Free: Colin Matthes

 

Please join in our excitement to announce our upcoming exhibition, It’s My Fault; It’s Free: Colin Matthes which opens to the public on Friday, October 6th with a reception from 5-8PM at The Alice Wilds. This will be the first solo exhibition of Matthes’ work in our space. The exhibition runs October 6 – November 18 with a gallery talk with the artist on Saturday, October 21 at 1PM.

Colin Matthes is a multi-disciplinary contemporary artist creating paintings and instructional drawings, along with sculptural work and mini demolition derbies. He holds a BFA from the Department of Art, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, WI and an MFA from the University of Michigan, School of Art & Design, Ann Arbor, MI. Often improvised and always resourceful, his work can be viewed in galleries from Nebraska to the Netherlands, in abandoned shopping malls, and rural fairs. Since 2011, Matthes has been creating his ongoing series of instructional drawings titled, “Essential Knowledge,” teaching skills for success in challenging situations such as how to build a pool in the back of your pick-up truck, how to tie a tie (you’ve nailed it!), and a four-step process to listening. Matthes’ work has recently been published in American Illustration, FUKT Magazine for Contemporary Drawing, and Volume 1 of “Essential Knowledge” is distributed and available through Booklyn.

from the artist…

My studio used to be expansive and industrial. Now, our family lives in an overgrown suburb from the 70’s. It’s My Fault; It’s Free was made in the garage, the basement, and in bed recovering from knee surgery. High on painkillers with my leg elevated, I made drawings about four horsemen, snakes, and using a pencil. The drawings, part of my series Essential Knowledge, teach skills for success in challenging situations.

Once I was able to hobble around and in line with my increasingly domestic concerns, I started making sculptural seating and lighting that I imagine using while drinking cocktails. These somewhat utilitarian objects, paired with somewhat instructional drawings, are what life looks like now.

I am making things on an island; I like it here.

Before there was art, I installed temporary electric at small town county fairs and wired trailer parks. I grew up on a gravel road near a village with three bars, a post office, and the World’s Greatest Junk Parade. I learned to make do with whatever was on hand.

I make art now, drawings mainly. I work on multiple projects at once, each distinct but informing the others. I always show the means of production. The process, the fingerprints, the screwups.

I have two young kids; my world is now small. I have gained confidence out of necessity; I no longer have room for aimlessness or indecision. When I steal time, storytelling, anxiousness, research, and humor are used to make things that solve problems or to make things about the idea of solving problems.

 

Upcoming Events at The Alice Wilds: Artist Talk: Saturday, October 21, 2023: 1PM