Wesley Willis: Artist of the Streets

Never before seen short documentary focusing on Wesley's art. I knew Wesley for a number of years from the early to late 80s. I made this in 1988. This YouTube upload is the first time this video has ever been made public. I have been told that it is the only footage of Wesley drawing and explaining his drawing. RIP, Wesley.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Wesley Willis
• Carl Hart
• Carl W. Hart

[cmeza1985]

Holy crap, this has been unseen for this long? He wasn't even fat in this short doc. Did you witness the beginnings of his music live in the streets before he got 'famous'?

[ccwhart]

He wasn't as fat then as he got later, but he was already a really big guy. There wasn't even a hint of any involvement in music then.  It think it's a shame that his "music" has taken the focus away from his real talent--drawing.

[lesterclaypool1]

@ccwhart

I used to collect Wesley's self produced albums for his artwork.

I noticed that you had commented that Wesley was hearing voices well before the 1989 timeline given in another documentary. It's my understanding that Wesley, himself, gave 1989 as the timeline in many interviews.

Do you think that that date stuck out for Wesley as that may have been the year that the voices went from present to intrusive and abusive?

Organic mental conditions do progress.

Thank you for being his friend.

[ccwhart]

@lesterclaypool1

I'm not a psychiatrist nor can I account for what Wesley said, but when I met him in the early 80s, it was quite evident that whatever it was that was affecting him was already affecting him at that time. Perhaps it changed over time, though in videos of him interacting with other people made later in his life, I don't really see any difference. And thanks for thanking me. At the time I made this video, he was completely unknown.

[therealmecharedneck]

Are any of Wesleys drawings on exhibit? These are really wonderful. I like how deliberate the strokes of color are. I've always liked Wesley Willis, but I never knew he was such a talented artist. I wanna head butt his gravestone.

[ccwhart]

I'm not aware of any exhibits, though there may one somewhere. The only exhibit that I know of took place in Egypt (of all the unlikely places) a couple of years ago.

[ShenXia]

This is really heartbreaking to watch. Poor Wesley. He seems like such a good man.

And, man, he has a real eye for perspective!

[illuminatijews]

God, i wish i could have some of his art.

[dondoe33]

Great video..we are lucky to have a drawing from 1989 of Michigan Avenue.



[hivehead1]

Classic!!

[ClemProductions]

Somebody must have pressed 'dislike' by mistake?

[Nintendocolourfiend]

Absolutely amazing.

[sunovbich]

This is VERY COOL!!!!

You are a lucky person to have been his friend and to capture him creating his art.

A friend turned me on Wesley on a lunch break at work in 2001 and I've been a fan ever since.

[alldane1]

".....just like Johnny 'Guitar' Watson...." :)

[w4r7]

man i'd love to own one of his pieces. rock over heaven wesley willis...rock on.

[DanZero77]

A very rare and intimate portrait of one of the greatest voices of our time. Although he was very well known for his music, his drawing was another way of him being an "artist" to himself and to the world, chasing away his demons and overcoming adversity in a way only he knew how to do it, and we are left with a brutally raw and honest legacy of a man not many know, but when is discovered, left a mark on America.

[JulianFRosales]

This guy has some real talent that is not seen everyday..... Great work Wesley Willis, and a big thanks to the person who shared this video with us.

[bobbyperrault2]

the only real motherfucker to ever make music