There is something magical about going to the movies.
Putting aside all discussion of social commentary, narrative arc and cinematic technique, the ultimate purpose of cinema is to entertain. Greater aspirations are essential, but while many people can not identify Oskar Schindler, anyone can pick E.T. out of a lineup. Every great film begins as a great movie.
And many of the most popular movie images in the last 15 years have come from the creative genius of University alumnus Stan Winston. A 1968 graduate and former art major, Winston now employs 75 artists at his studio, which is one of the most successful and well-recognized in Hollywood. In a career spanning over 20 years, Winston has worked on nearly 40 films, garnering four Oscars and giving birth to countless characters - from the Queen Alien and the Terminator to this summer's Fat Bastard and the Budweiser frogs.
"Creating Characters & Creatures: The Art of the Stan Winston Studio," the newest exhibit at the Bayly Art Museum, allows visitors to stand face to face with images that have fascinated audiences and become permanent fixtures of American pop culture.
Appropriately, Winston was the special guest of "TechnoVisions," of this year's Virginia Film Festival. The Festival explored the changing face of motion picture technology; today, thanks to the inventiveness of individuals like Winston, the only limit on the content of movies is the capacity of the human imagination. But Winston does not rest continuously on the cutting edge of technology, instead often returning to the proven techniques of the past to achieve the result he desires.
What has made Winston so successful is not only his artistic ability but his capability to surround himself with talent. The Bayly exhibit is not just a tribute to one man but to the collaborative efforts of an entire company. Although the majority of the works are Winston's, seven other artists are represented.
Mark "Crash" McCreery's detailed drawings of bestial fantasy capture the interplay between savagery and grace found in the animal world and gothic tales. And while Christopher Smith only has two works in the exhibit, one is unquestionably the most prominent: Upon entering the museum, the visitor is welcomed by Smith's full-size cast urethane velociraptor, fashioned for "Jurassic Park."
Jeff Weiss' photography provides the opportunity for one to recall favorite moments from the films of Stan Winston Studio. His 52" x 41" color stills capture the brilliance of Winston's most identifiable characters, taking the audience back to their seats in the theater, allowing them to relive for a brief moment the enchantment of the original experience. The strength of the entire exhibit is not the pieces themselves but rather the memory of our first encounters with them.
Still, Winston is the obvious star of the show. Not only does he have the greatest number of works, but his overall vision influences the works of others.
One work appears completely out of place in the Winston display. "Brothers: The Challenge" is a simple oil-on-canvas portrait of three young boys. Amid so many representations of fantasy, it is ostentatiously grounded in reality. The painting is good, but the story behind it is even better.
When Winston was a fourth year at the University, he had to produce a term assignment to graduate. He brought an old monochromatic photograph of his father and two uncles to his art professor and said he wished to paint it. Winston's professor told him he wouldn't be able to do it properly, and he should choose a new project.
According to the program for the exhibit, this challenge inspired Winston.
"I would really like to try this," he told his professor. "If I don't do it perfectly, I'd like you to fail me, and if I succeed, give me an A, nothing in between." This explains the title of "Brothers: The Challenge," and it obviously made the grade.
Some may think this painting is irrelevant to the exhibit and to Winston's career. In fact, it is the show's most relevant piece, because it foregrounds Winton's University connection. For movie lovers, the exhibit is exciting, but for students, it's inspiring - it reminds us of our own potential. The competitive job market today makes students unsure of their future, but Winston's exhibit inspires students to believe in themselves and reminds us of our possibility for success after leaving the University.
Winston had a dream and he followed it. That same imaginative spirit drives the wonder of his films, and will be on display at the Bayly Art Museum until Dec. 21.
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