Welcome
The Shoaling is the culmination of William Durkin’s lifelong love of the water and its inhabitants. An assembly of more than 50 dynamic, glimmering sculptures compels us to take a closer look at the beauty of our oceans, rivers, and lakes—and the great perils they are facing.
The artist writes:
My vision comes from the visual language of fish and their beautiful spectrum of colors that is rarely seen by us in their habitats due to attenuation. When light enters water, its intensity quickly decreases and its color changes. So unless you’re in very clear waters wearing a good mask light scatters and in the oceans particles diffuse light colors fading to grays.
My art brings together viewers seeing fish as they never have before and inhabitants now facing extinction – species that seek to evoke engagement through their beautiful spectacle. To stir our consciousness to be mindful of them before they’re gone.
I’m a long time into this journey of creating fish art, but no longer into the doom and gloom threats that surround our planet from every imaginable land, sea, and air climate change. Why so? During the lockdown and the two pandemic years, we’ve all experienced losses of every type. Yet, as COVID has raged and ravaged our world, those of us who have survived have witnessed what science and man can do.
Jane Goodall’s new book “Hope” and David Attenborough’s “A life on our planet” are two reads that profoundly provide insights and solutions for our coping with our complex and changing envirornmental situations. Both are lifelong naturalists who have great faith in the resilinence of mankind and mother nature. Clearly it’s now the time for all artists to illuminate, educate and show us individually and collectively how to contribute to saving our earth, oceans, and our humanity.
William J. Durkin
News Archived
Spring Summer Fall 2022
The Shoaling was featured in a solo exhibition at the spectacular Reeves-Reed Arboretum, in Summit, New Jersey. The Shoaling Exhibition was stunning in the main rooms of the beautifully restored mansion. The audience of visitors to the exhibit enjoyed the art works and left heart-felt messages behind in a folder for me. Mister Paul Vernet, my neighbor made a four minute film that rocks like his big rock and rollin’ heart. Yours to veiw on this site. But mostly I want to thank all of those folks whose selfless dedication made and makes the Reeves-Reed Arboretum the outstanding venue it is! Lastly, thanks and appreciation to Jackie Kondel for steering the arboretum to breath taking heights that amaze and inspire all of us.
Spring 2019
The Emperor and The Empress appeared in the FOCUS: Gaia exhibit at the Woodstock Artists Association Museum (WAAM) from March 9th through March 31st as part of its centennial celebration. Click here to learn more about the exhibit.
Summer 2017
Selections from The Shoaling were featured in the 2017 Undercurrents exhibit at the Samuel Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz. For more information, visit the museum’s website or read a word from the artist.