John Y. Wind: The Making of a Modern Man

I have known and admired center city resident John Wind and his commercial work since I first began representing him and Aston’s own Maximal
Art (www.maximalart.com) in the
mid-1980’s.

However, I saw another side of his art when I had the pleasure of attending the Opening Reception of his first gallery show, “The Making of a
Modern Man” at the James Oliver Gallery,
723 Chestnut Street,
in Philadelphia (215-923-1242).  (http://www.jamesolivergallery.com/;
http://inliquid.org/happenings/inliquid-projects/partner-projects/inliquid-james-oliver-gallery/;
http://www.uwishunu.com/2013/05/james-oliver-gallery-and-inliquid-present-the-making-of-a-modern-man-the-first-solo-show-by-local-artist-john-wind-opening-friday-may-17/

I was immediately struck by how one can view his work from many perspectives, like the images in the many faceted disco balls in the exhibit (a relic of the 1980’s when he attended art school in London, and made
his reputation with works still on display in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris).  In his gallery ensembles, he transforms the whimsy and wry sensibility of his “vintage modern” jewelry into art that makes
statements about how men age, that immediately resounded with me (a contemporary of John).

For example, I was particularly taken by a work with enraged (and, in a family paper, at least) unprintable responses to the ubiquitous AARP solicitations that inevitably follow one’s 50th birthday.  His collection of now faded but still delightful  snow globes from the travels of his youth, across the country and world, reminded me of my own (much less impressive) refrigerator magnet collection of travel souvenirs. 

The exhibit has many such reflections on the passage of time, and aging of men, with a wealth of details that will trigger memories for viewers - a “Big
Boy” hamburger chain restaurant icon (where my father frequently took our family, in the pre-golden arches era), a vintage Cub Scout uniform, and pictures of the young artist and his father. 

My own takeaway from the exhibit was a new appreciation of the rich tapestry that is life, and the different perspectives we each have, depending
on one’s own background and era.  I
strongly recommend a trip into John’s time travel prism, as a reminder of the
good times in one’s own past – and the better times to come. 

The exhibit runs through June 26.  Note that it contains mature content.