Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

Welcome to the first volume of Monsoon's Greatest Hits. Greatest Hits is a biweekly spotlight on some of our favorite shows from the past. First up - crayon sculptor extraordinaire Herb Williams show "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants."

In July and August 2008, Monsoon Gallery was filled with the bright color and unmistakable smell that is the art of Herb Williams.

That smell is wax, for Williams' media is the crayon. The Nashville-based artist is one of the few individuals in the world who has an account with Crayola; he uses thousands and thousands of crayons to create each of his unique sculptures. Using an epoxy to connect the crayons and various cutting devices to add three-dimensionality, Williams has created national buzz for his whimsical and striking pieces.

Since giving up traditional materials, Williams has made crayon sculptures of animals, household items, and famous faces. A portrait of a Marilyn Monroe centerfold used a quarter of a million crayons (most of them Peach).

The Monsoon show included many flowers – a perfect subject choice due to the intense saturation of color the crayons give Williams – as well as several homages to great artists throughout history. Williams' art can be enjoyed by all, but audiences with knowledge of art history will especially enjoy seeing his take on the work of artists such as Jim Dine, Damien Hirst, Paul Cezanne, and Roy Lichtenstein. The pieces are bright and colorful, at once immediately enjoyable on their own, but also playful winks to art history. All sculpted out of crayon.

"I have more cases of crayons in my studio than anyone should have a right to own," Williams said. "But the sight and scent of it all will usually provoke a smile. That in itself, is worthy of pursuing."

Check back soon for some of the articles about Herb's show. It was well received throughout the Lehigh Valley. We had grandparents, parents, kids, young couples, pretty much everyone stopped by to see Herb's work. Check out Herb's portfolio page to see more of his work, some of which is still in the gallery.