A self-proclaimed 'Mixed media mastication of introspective balderdash'

My first stop on my way down the art extravaganza that is Court Street landed me at Bagel Street Deli. I was greeted by the bouncing sound of RJD2, the smell of steamed bagels, and the equally invigorating artist and bagel steamer Bill Anderson.

Anderson's art collection "Drink" has been on display at Bagel Street since his opening show in late September, with a free wine bar that was well received by the many alcohol connoisseurs of Athens. Anderson had time to sit down with me at one of the home-decorated deli tables, this time the table with many leaves, and explained what the works around us were all about.

"This is the culmination of about a year and a half or so of pieces," Anderson said. "I had a collective drive along the lines of a cartoon vocabulary with a context directed towards ideas that were pursued through drinking or intoxication."

Anderson's pieces range from a monotone map collage of a man on a hanging set of vertical blinds to a sunshine triptych hanging on the opposite wall. I asked Anderson about the noticeable contrast placed throughout the room.

"It's combining the child's perspective with the adult- the opposite of a drunken attitude- using a cartoon vocabulary to help me carry those ideas," Anderson said. "It's not so much a contrast, but accepting a contrast and then utilizing that to create this middle ground of understanding and inspiration."

Anderson chooses mediums like hanging blinds because they're logical items to his buyers.

"It's a recycled idea from one of my first shows in high school...I realize that people love to be able to hang stuff up that can go in their window because it's so economical, and it's fung shui, and it's neat that light can shine through and is still a functional thing. It's a space saver. The context of this piece has to do with being blinded and being drunk- so drunk you can't see."

As an Ohio University art student Anderson appreciates how to utilize the Athens community to explore his art ideas and experiment with the actual idea behind "Drink." After all, the idea is truly recycled: Anderson found these blinds in the dumpster. The yellow-themed triptych will soon be on display in the Standard Salon, another locally owned location. Anderson traded this painting with the salon for a hair cut and storage space. This community connection is what drew Anderson to display his work at Bagel Street.

"I didn't think about it twice," Anderson said. "I wanted to shy away from schools and do something by myself, totally DIY. This place- you can't beat Bagel Street. You don't have to be anyone here."

Organic Art

As a fourth-year member of the Athens community I am constantly amazed by the ways in which this town is able to thrive on itself. Athens gives all new meaning to the organic trend, promoting local agriculture, retailers, and even neighborhood artists.

As a student it can be hard to find time to indulge in my art-loving side, which is why I feel so indebted to the many restaurants and shops around town that display local artwork on a regular basis. It seems that Athens has taken the fast-food notion and applied it to culture, enhancing a lunch-eater's quick time away from the books with thoughtful pieces scattered throughout friendly areas such as Bagel Street Deli, Donkey Coffee and Espresso, The Union, and Casa Nueva.

It is the goal of this blog to seek out current art displays at these local locations to get a better understanding of how the community of Athens, Ohio, encourages itself simultaneously through art and the economy.