The Box Gallery Presents Art Florida 2017: Curator's Choice Exhibition Featuring Artist Patrick Willard

Join us at The Box Gallery in West Palm Beach for Art Florida 2017: Curators Choice when Rolando Chang Barrero brings together 7 of the top curators in South Florida and their choices of artists to keep an eye on.

You are cordially invited to join us at The Box Gallery to pay homage and celebrate the achievements of Bruce Helander, Paul Fisher, Jane Hart, Marisa J. Pascucci, Lee Ann Lester, Debby Coles-Dobay, and Noor Blazekovic in a VIP Reception on January 20, 2017 from 7-10pm. Featuring the work of J.Steven Manolis, Patrick Willard, Andy Marx, Dana Donaty, Karla Walter, Carin Wagner, Sarah Knouse, Stefan Radu Cretu, and Jon Glaser. This exhibition is in partnership with Art Synergy, Art Palm Beach and Irreversible Projects.

Renowned curator and gallery owner Rolando Chang Berrero tapped artist Patrick Willard aka W4, to show unique works from his ‘Life’ series at Art Florida 2017 at The Box Gallery. The artist is known for his one-of-a-kind art collages made with his personal collection of rare rock concert tickets, backstage passes & VIP laminates capturing a million magical moments from a lifetime spent traveling the world as a music journalist & TV personality.

One of his most substantial pieces is a tremendous heart being crucified on a 9 foot, solid wood cross, “I made a heart for those whose hearts have been broken, for people who suffer, or who are in pain. The creation of the cross symbolizes crucification of the heart; metaphorically crucifying my art, giving it life again.”

Patrick Willard, aka W4, is a French-born American artist who resides in Miami Beach. He has lived an uncommon life that allowed him to enjoy countless musical experiences across the globe, attending over 4,000 concerts and music events over the course of his career. He kept every shred of music memorabilia and precious concert memories, which he uses in the creation of his unique art pieces. The artist fashions his artworks into rock n’ roll inspired designs such as skulls, guitars, motorcycles, angel wings, hearts & more.

One of the pieces in this exhibition is a powerful faceless self-portrait known as ‘Restart‘. Through this piece, along with the complete LIFE installation including the cross, heart and coffin, the artist allows for life to be experienced by the individual viewer; to become aware of the transformation and cycle of life and death, rebirth and starting anew. Exploring the symbolism and deeper meaning of the work. The heart on the jacket is the same as the art that has been crucified and has fallen into the coffin, filled with concert tickets and hearts of different colors denoting emotions on the spectrum; happiness, love, sadness, memories, melancholy, etc.

Representing new life, these “petals” in the coffin grow into new art. “le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.” –Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher. “The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of.”