He says that each piece is a part of history; something that is recorded.  Each piece tells a story. He laughs when he describes how he collects the materials he uses on his work.  He is a huge man, 6ft 4in, size 15 shoes, with a muscular build, bald head and goatee.  He looks like a wrestler, or ex football tight-end or a body builder.    He says, “If you happen to see me out and about, you might catch me at the gumball machines.   I collect toys, and other objects, art materials from gumball machines”, he laughs. 
 

      I can see him pulling out his change and deciding what machine to spend his change on.  He says he wants the artifacts to represent what small toys kids bought in the 80’s 90’s and 00’s and until his death.   His work lets you know where he was at the moment he created the artifact, and he might use a gumball toy he bought at the store that day.  They are historic artifacts.  

      I saw a piece with Homer Simpson on it, and a Popsicle and watermelon.   I could tell it was summer when he created it and when I talked to him about it, he said he had been watching the Simpson’s and actually had a Popsicle that day.     

      Sometimes he creates the small pieces with clay.  He uses about every medium you can think of for the pieces.  He laughs when he talks about the art.   He uses glow in the dark paint sometimes this is used for subliminal messages in the art.   He uses photographs, stamps, digital images, seeds, beads, wires, spray paints, acrylics, tissue paper, just to name a few materials, and about every small toy you can think of.  

     One of the pieces I saw had the word God in it. Another had the word love, and another said joy when the lights went out. Each piece of art delighted me and made me smile.   I saw a couple small kids playing a game with the art.  Find the fly!  Ok find the cat!  Find the squirt gun!    The toys are hidden in and used as his pallet, so sometimes you don’t even know they are there until you get up close.  

      He says he believes in God and follows the ways of Christ.  He says all of his work is spiritual as he believes that God is either everything or He is nothing.   When he sees, say an animal in nature, he believes God is giving him a message.  He said to me he saw a dead squirrel a few days ago and so his next art piece is going to be about a squirrel.   He said he saw a black squirrel yesterday and started noticing squirrels all over the place.   He asked me what I knew about the squirrel and I said they collect nuts and store up food for the winter.  They love to climb trees and jump a lot.  They are tight wire experts.   He said maybe God is telling him to save his money, or to plan ahead for the future.  They are erratic and he asks me if I have I ever dealt with somebody who was squirrelly.  I giggled.  And he nodded and said, “Yes they drive you nuts don’t they?”  I laughed again and the both of us giggled together.  “I guess God is telling me to be prepared for another miracle like the squirrel gets prepared for winter.  I can hardly wait to see what He has in store for me,” he smiled and said. “I hope I haven’t collected too much junk?” he said.  “If something no longer grows corn for you then it is time to let it go.”  He then asked me if I wanted to buy a truck.  I laughed.  “How about a stove?” he laughed again, “or a wood splitter?”  I laughed again. “A wheel chair……” He went on for a minute more or so.   

      I must say I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with William, but the time I spent, I will remember for ever.  

      This was a piece I liked and he told me a little about it.  It was called, Three Rainbow Trout.    From a distance the fish looked 3 dimensional.   He said he saw a rainbow the other day.  He said “Did you know that when you see a big rainbow you’re about to receive a miracle again? You just saw 3 rainbows, so God’s got something in store for you,” he said as he pointed at my heart.  

      “Do you see the army men on the piece?  We are at war with Iraq, so that is why you see army men on the piece.  It’s sad isn’t it?”  His eyes watered as he spoke to me.   “Do you see the word Brat on the piece?   One of my spiritual advisors Pete said I was a Brat when I did the piece, so I put that on the piece.  I was being one.   I wanted God to do it my way!” he grinned. And God laughed and of course, did it His way.  “Are you ever a Brat?” he asked, and I just looked at him again.

      He said, “Do you see the golf clubs?   I want to go golfing, but won’t make the time for it yet.  Will you go golfing with me when I am famous and rich and got the time for that?”. “Sure of course I will,” I said hoping that I actually could someday do that with him. “Well I am already rich and famous, so give me some time and I will.” I didn’t know what to say and wished I had scheduled a tee time.   

      “I lived in San Diego once.  Do you see the dolphin?   I made that with clay.  I loved the Cat and the Hat story didn’t you?” he asked as he pointed to the fish from that story.  “Do you see the white elephant!? The republicans are still in control now.  I can hardly wait for a change!  I don’t like what’s going on." he said.   

      “I am making money at this,” he said as he pointed to the rock that looked like gold.  “Do you think I can make enough?”

         “I think you can, this stuff is great.”, as I nodded and wondered what he meant by that.  ‘How much is enough?’ I thought. 

     He motioned for me to follow him as he then took the piece into the bathroom and turned out the lights.  Near the tail on the top trout was the word ‘God’ and one small fish on the bottom trout glowed in the dark.   My mouth dropped.  “WOW I never saw that!”, I exclaimed to him, “this stuff is wonderful.”  I wanted a piece of his work and asked him what he was selling the art for.   He said,  “Oh this piece is for 300 dollars.”  I wish I would have bought it then because that same piece now sells for over a $1000.  I am sure they will go up again.  

      He said, “Art is like a Tattoo.  You get it because you love it and want it to stick around because it has some meaning that you like.   But unlike a tattoo it’s easy to change it once you get it.”   He said, “If you like something buy it now, or you might regret it later on.   It will be on your wall for years.  And then if you want you can buy something else you love and replace this piece.”  

    I am not sure where William’s art will take him but it sure took me on a journey.  He was right.  Art does tell a story and his art sure did that for me.  I look always forward to seeing a show by him.