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Net Two Folding Rules

1970

American, 1937 - 2021

Wiley is well-known for his light-hearted and humorous figurative paintings, but as evidenced in this early work, he was also working through ideas of process and structure that were of interest to artists that defined Minimalism. His mock-scientific study regarding "net results" on the central text panel led to the net-like structure of the piece, which in turn resembles a deconstructed painting.

Cotton webbing, wood, and silk

59 15/16 x 59 15/16 in. (152.3 x 152.3 cm)

Gift of Sidney and Anne Gerber

80.66

Provenance: Sidney and Anne Gerber, Seattle, Washington; gifted to the Seattle Art Museum, December 8, 1980

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, November 2007-November 2008

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "American Art, Third Quarter Century", August 23- October 14, 1973

Seattle, Washington, Manolides Gallery, "William T. Wiley," 1971

Published Referencesvan der Marck, Jan, "American Art: Third Quarter Century", Seattle Art Museum, 1973, cat. no. 74, illus. p. 94

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