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William Blake (b. 1991)
Sharp Shooter, Homage to Civil War Artist Winslow Homer, Original Oil on Linen

2018

About the Item

Winslow Homer first visited the front lines during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. From this experience he created his first painting; the iconic painting of the lone sharpshooter which now hangs at the Portland Museum of Art. During the 155th reenactment of the Peninsula Campaign at the Endview Plantation in New Port New Virginia, William Blake sketched a 1st United States Sharpshooters reenactor as Winslow Homer. This was the first campaign that the 1st United States sharpshooters were used in battle. The assigned duties of this regiment marked a departure from the military rules of organized armies. Sharpshooters were assigned to kill the enemy at long range. In today’s warfare, sniper fire is an accepted part of war, but for the Victorian sensibilities this was an offense to fair play. Known for his highly charged depictions of Civil War reenactments, William Blake’s powerful paintings show the recursive bodies of reenactors as they gesture across time. Participating in over 40 reenactment events, Blake currently interprets as the artist-correspondent Winslow Homer at these battle reenactments. He immerses himself in the materiality of his own obsession by constructing period clothes, camping on battlefields, and documenting the reenactment similar to Homer’s documentation of the authentic war. The figures in the paintings reverberate the past with respect and with a desire to educate, humble, and play. With each annual iteration of American Civil War reenactments, the reanimation of the past encourages a review of history and aids in its continuous revision. As for the paintings, William uses materials and methods of the Civil War era. The linen on which he paints was in use at that time as well as the tubed oil paints. He is one of the few artists who tacks his canvas to the stretchers using similar tacks that would have been used by Winslow Homer. While he leaves the works unframed for this reason, the artwork could certainly be framed. This artwork is unframed. Contact the gallery for framing options. William Blake Surgery oil on linen 24h x 47w in 60.96h x 119.38w cm WIL012 William Blake b. 1991, Oshkosh, WI Education 2018 MFA Painting, Tyler School of Art, Temple University 2014 BFA Painting, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign 2013 Glasgow School of Art Selected Exhibitions 2020 Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2019 All of Us Curated by Eric Preisendanz, Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 2018 A Grand Review, Tyler School of Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 2017 Ocotillo Curated by Jonathan DeDecker, Stella Elkins Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 2016 New American Paintings: Midwest Edition, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL Continental Divide, Sidetracked Studio, Evanston, IL 2015 William Blake: Patinas from the American Civil War, Hinsdale Public Library, Hinsdale, IL I Can't Breathe, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL Wall to Wall, Art Space, Chicago, IL 2014 Between the States, Figure One, Champaign, IL Flagg Extension Show, Flagg Gallery, Champaign, IL Figuration, Indi Go Gallery, Champaign, IL RAW, Indi Go Gallery, Champaign, IL 2D Exhibition, Link Gallery, Champaign, IL 2013 Upside Down, Left to Right, Figure One, Champaign, IL Second Year Painting Exhibition, Glasgow, Scotland Awards 2018 Tyler School of Art Dean’s Grant 2017 7th Annual PleinAir Salon June/July 2015 Figurative Finalist, International Art Renewal Center Salon 2014 Florence M. House Scholarship, University of Illinois 2009 Young Emerging Artist Award, Washington University in St. Louis Residencies 2015 Vermont Studio Center Fellowship 2014 Berkshire Painting Residency
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