Image Not Available

West by Southwest

Artist William Christenberry (American, 1936 - 2016)

Date1993

Mediumpaint, metal, wood, signs, and other found objects

DimensionsImage: 44 × 77 3/4 inches (111.8 × 197.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds provided by the Gari Melchers Collectors’ Society in memory of Ronald J. Strahan.

Object number2008.30

On View

Not on view

Copyright© Estate of William Christenberry / HEMPHILL Artworks The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextThrough painting, photography, sculptures, and assemblages, artist William Christenberry drew upon the landscape of the rural South and his childhood experiences growing up in Hale County, Alabama to address themes of memory, transience, and mortality. His art was inspired by vernacular architecture, Southern folkways, decaying signs, and other relics of rural life. Embodying the wear and tear of time, his wall constructions consist of castoff materials collected by the artist, including license plates, advertisements, and building materials. West by Southwest was motivated by a visit to Aspen, Colorado, where the artist discovered intriguing similarities between Western and Southern vernacular architecture and imagery.

Terms