Prayer Wheel Series
"Double Prayer"
72"long x 36"high x 15"deep
Scrap metal and wood
Bill Wilson 2021
The Prayer Wheel series is inspired by traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels. Brutalist and organic in form, Double Prayer is composed of Smoke Tree wood and two bullet riddled aluminum discs. The random bullet pattern signifies infinite never-ending mantras.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Watersnake" Wind Chime
86"long x 84"high x 15"deep
Scrap metal and wood
Bill Wilson 2021
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Watersnake is composed of Smoke Tree wood, small and large bullet riddled propane tanks, and fire extinguishers.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Guardian" Wind Chime
36"long x 41"high x 8"deep
Scrap metal and wood
Bill Wilson 2021
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Guardian is composed of Tamarisk wood, square metal stock, bullet riddle pipe and aluminum sails.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Welcome" Wind Chime and Bell
44"long x 46"high x 8"deep
Scrap metal and wood
Bill Wilson 2021
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist in nature, Welcome is composed of Smoke Tree wood, square metal stock, copper pipe, steel pipe, bullet riddle propane tanks and fire extinguishers, glass insulator, and a bell. Welcome serves the dual purpose of allowing a guest to announce their arrival and protecting an abode from evil spirits.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. No two are alike and it is possible to change the pitch and sound by rearranging the strings of objects that are suspended from the wood hanger.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Narwahl" Giant Wind Chime
36"long x 41"high x 8"deep
Scrap metal and wood
Bill Wilson 2021
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Narwhal is composed of Acacia wood, square metal stock, copper pipe, stained glass, bullet riddled propane tanks, tin and rusted metal.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Manatee" Giant Wind Chime
62"long x 54"high x 5"deep
Scrap metal and wood
Bill Wilson 2021
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Manatee is composed of Smoke Tree wood and baffles pulled from old water heaters.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Daisy Solar" Wind Chime
Scrap metal
48"long x 44"high x 28"deep
Bill Wilson 2020
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Daisy Solar is composed of square metal stock, copper pipe, bullet riddled propane tanks and fire extinguishers, and parts from a cut flower display rack.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Koi" Giant Wind Chime
Scrap metal and wood
48"long x 44"high x 8"deep
Bill Wilson 2020
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Koi is composed of Tamarisk wood, square metal stock, copper pipe, bullet riddled metal and propane tanks, water heater baffles, and tin sails.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Chaser Series
"Salamander" Giant Wind Chime
Junk Metal and wood
84"long x 82"high x 12"depth
Bill Wilson 2021
Spirit Chasers are giant wind chimes that can also be used as screens, room dividers or abstract dimensional hangings. They are made from bullet riddled propane tanks and metal found in the Mojave Desert, and salvaged metal parts found at garage sales and flea markets. The wood hangers are made from Smoke Tree, Tamarisk, Manzanita, Acacia and other woods that have dried on the desert or mountain floor.
Brutalist and organic in form, Salamander is composed of Smoke Tree wood, rusted steel pipe, copper pipe, bullet riddled fire extinguisher and propane tanks, tin circles, ceramic insulators, and a loading ramp.
Each Spirit Chaser has a unique pitch and sound. Wind chimes are considered percussion instruments They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, the sounds emanated from wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct or distinct pitches.
Spirit Filter Series 2020/21
Junk metal and Charred Manzanita
48"long x16"high x 10"deep
Artist: Bill Wilson
Images of the garden at Vista Chino between 2014-2018. The garden is constantly undergoing change, and even in the desert we have planting, blooming, growing, and dormant seasons. We can plant here from mid-September through late spring, April/May. After the heat starts letting up in September a 2-3 month period of concentrated bloom and growth occurs. Then as nights cool down in late November and December the bloom slows and we face our chilliest months, January and February, our winter dormant period. Then another dazzling spring frenzy of bloom happens from late February through May. Summer months are all about survival and once again we face a pseudo dormant period, and in August, generally our hottest month, even the high heat bloomers can only take so much before they shut down, leaves curled slightly.
“There are many who would plant a garden, but few who are gardeners.”
Making gardenArt challenges my imagination in regards to what is beautiful and what is ugly within the context of a garden setting. I utilize found organic materials, recycled decorative art, discarded satellite dishes, garden pots and other whimsey for my gardenArt assemblages; chollaBowls, alters, good luck charms, windchimes, shot metal wall and fence lights, and cactus lanterns.
Much of my personal inspiration is derived from the relationship I have with my home garden. It is my daily go-to, a private experience with nature, and is doubly important when I can’t hit the desert roads for some exploring and pic taking.
I think of my garden as a personal laboratory where I can experiment with light, plants – and hone design and horticultural skills. The garden is where I go to express creativity, sit in the sun, contemplate, meditate, exercise, and generally commune with nature. Click for More Garden Image Galleries
cactusLanterns 2018© The original cactus lanterns were made from shot up propane tanks I got off back road firing ranges. Production of 43
Lost Horizons is a series of vintage inspired photo collages based on roadside images shot while traveling the backroads of the Mojave Desert between Palm Springs and Las Vegas. Infinite vistas of sand and mountains. Decaying ruins. Miles of jurassic Joshua Tree forests. Trains heading east and west so long they slide into infinity. Desert life hides everywhere in plain site, gulping the scant moisture brought in with the cool nights, displaying a spurt of life and growth either side of the hot months. The long summer days when life enters a state of suspended animation, coming alive at dusk and disappearing with the first hot rays of morning sunlight.
I recently acquired two soft back books, “Painted Ladies” and “Painted Ladies Revisited”.
I wasn’t living in San Francisco when the first book, “Painted Ladies” came out in 1977, but a few of the houses I painted between 1980-1986 appeared in “Painted Ladies Revisited” published in 1987.
The following is an excerpt about 908 Steiner with before and after pics to the right, a couple houses I painted on the left and the pink lady across the square to the west.
“In the last few years, the house has reverted to an understated design on the exterior. Bill Wilson created a richly colored scheme that incorporates eight colors of blues, grays, whites, and burgundy to show off the Corinthian pillars and bracketed cornice. With its subtlety and sophistication, 908 is now a symbol for the new generation”
There was always much more involved in a paint job than throwing up some paint. Burning and sanding, repairing the century old redwood, hand stripping pot metal (the top of each corinthian column at 908 Steiner was made from upwards of 60 pieces of molded pot metal), gold and silver leafing, replacing missing finials and other millwork.
Ⓒ 2021 MojaveArts and William A Wilson | All Rights Reserved
