Bill Worrell

Tucked away in protected rock shelters above the Lower Pecos River lie the vestiges of an ancient American Culture of primitive people who occupied caves and began painting around 3500 - 3000 B.C., mysteriously vanishing around 1000 A.D. The images they created with mixtures of mineral pigments, charcoal, and possibly blood and animal fat suggest an interesting connection with the sacred ceremonies of these early tribesman. Animals and other intriguing forms with and without faces, believed to have been the artwork of shamans, embellish the cave walls in stunning and mystical silence. One can only speculate upon their many symbolic meanings.

These prehistoric designs, along with tools of flint, bone and wood, sotol and yucca weavings, and some skeletal remains are all that is left of the extinct inhabitants of the Lower Pecos region.

For Bill Worrell, former university professor of art, this discovery was impressive and powerful - an experience that would forever change the direction and style of his work. "I was on fire with inspiration and spent the next seven years studying and developing a style that would express my feelings and my emotions - or at least part of them - about the ancient art of the bygone peoples of the Lower Pecos River and the Middle Rio Grande, on the border if what is now Texas and Mexico." The inspiration led to writing, then to drawing and finally to sculpting.

Addressing the subject matter from an aesthetic perspective, Bill Worrell maintains that his creations are interpretations of the ancient pictographs rather than a documentation of their historical value. "I have my own intuitions and notions about the art of these ancients. For me, understanding it is a spiritual experience, a spiritual exercise. It is not unlike getting a musical instrument in tune."

Bill Worrell is continually energized by the challenge of creating ever - evolving variations of the timeless images, visualizing himself alongside his so - called "primitive counterparts" and striving to capture the essence of their expressions through the contemporary methods of painting, sculpture, and pottery. Each sculptural design is created in wax and cast in limited edition bronzes by the "lost wax" method. After the casting is extracted from its silica investment, it is cleaned and chastened.

Dramatic contrasts are then developed by the application of chemicals that produce colorful patinas alongside highly polished areas. This is a process that Bill Worrell insists on doing himself, considering his unique patinas as continuations of his paintings. Bill Worrell's ability to improve upon existing foundry methods is reflective of his own inventive nature, and his desire to attain higher levels of achievement keep his work fresh, exciting, and in demand.

When sculpting and painting, Bill Worrell often writes simultaneously. These writings were initially brought to the public eye as inscriptions on the back of Bill Worrell's bronze sculptures, acrylics on canvas, and wearable sculptures, and they offer a glimpse into the artistic mind at work. Written with heart and soul, these writings are Bill Worrell's own intimate reflections and ponderings on subjects ranging from the passage of time to the existence of "spirits," and from spiritual wonderings to the pursuit and joyful celebration of the blessings of increasing clarity and LIGHT. As with his first ("Voices From the Caves - The Shamans Speak") and second ("Journeys Through the Winds of Time") books that included a selection of writings from Bill Worrell's journals, Bill Worrell is currently working on his third. His interpretations of ancient pictographic and petroglyphic art have enthralled art lovers worldwide and have captured the attention of archaeologists and theologians as well.

Bill Worrell's style is multi - faceted and descriptive... "The work is not an attempt to document this cave, cliff, and rock art. The intention has been to represent it on canvas, in clay, in silver, and in bronze. "The paintings are representations. "The bronzes are interpretations in a three dimensional medium. "The clay pieces are stone of sorts, and except for the vessels, are representations of the cliffs, rocks, and caves which contain unbelievable volumes of Indian art. The pigments on these works are oxides and earth's which are fired and sintered into the clay."

"I love my art, and I want you to love it also. So - gently - touch it, feel it, view it, and love it." - Bill Worrell.

Bill Worrell's work can be found in private and corporate fine art collections around the world. He has been a featured artist in more than one hundred one - man shows and exhibitions and in numerous two - man and group exhibitions. His seventeen - foot monumental bronze entitled THE MAKER OF PEACE, owned by the State of Texas, overlooks the ancient Fate Bell rock shelter at Seminole Canyon State Historical Park between Langtry and Comstock, Texas, west of Del Rio. Exposures Gallery is the largest gallery for Bill Worrell art and the only gallery in the world with Bill Worrell's complete collection on display.

Bill Worrell's Definitions:

What are shamans?

We presume that, like many other primitive cultures, the Lower Pecos people believed the ecological balance of nature was fragile, and that when any part was removed, even for the purpose of food and shelter, there was a price to be paid. For this reason, they relied upon authoritative figures within their tribe to act as mediators between them and the spirits of nature, gaining permission or making restitution for the consumption of plants and animals for their survival. Shamans were held in high esteem as experts in matters of the human soul and the forces controlling human destiny. It is widely believed by archeological scholars that the cave murals in this area (as well as others across North America) were likely to have been painted by shamans in their sacred ceremonies. This theory would explain why many of the images appear to be human forms involved in "supernatural journeys".

Shaman Symbols

If we could amalgamate a priest, a lawyer, a chiropractor, a medical doctor, and a judge into a single entity, there would then exist and individual who could perform the tasks of an ancient shaman of the Lower Pecos. This person did not choose to be a shaman, he or she was chosen, appointed, or called to be a shaman, and he or she practically always denied, refuted, or resisted this calling until a severe illness, usually to the point of death, fell upon this individual. This is what made the person submit to the calling. Duties and gifts then included the healing of the sick, the arbitration of disputes, and the making of restitution with The Great Spirits for those things taken from nature that fed and clothed the people. The ancients believed that the shamans could transform themselves into different animals, thus the representation of deer, birds and feathers. The shamans could enter different states of consciousness, thus the representations of those entering the dream world, or spirit journeys. These symbols have been inspired by the wonderful artwork of the ancient Lower Pecos People. - Bill Worrell July, 1994

The "Bird on a Pole (or Staff)"

- This image has been found in petroglyphs in Siberia. It is believed to be 13,000 years old. It is also found on the Lower Pecos. It is the oldest known symbol for the human soul. I have transformed the bird into a raven because of it's spiritual significance with more recent American Indian Peoples. I have portrayed the raven as effected by various human conditions, thus it is bound, in flight, or at rest.

The "Golden Ring of Forever"TM

- Represents infinity, non - endingness, completeness, regeneration, and the cyclic nature of the universe.

The "Magic Stick"

- An accoutrement of the shamanistic arts.

The "Atlatl"

- A spear thrower. A ridged sling. Used with the spear, the dart, and the flint projectile point.

The "Cape"

- A symbol of authority. A symbol of the utilitarian use of the sacred whitetail deer.

The "Shamaness"

- A term of my own creation intended to glorify womanhood. Most of my shamaness figures wear plumes about their heads, that they may soar to lofty heights, knowing no limits except those of the universe.