University of Washington Daily

Storming the Tower: Stephen J. Walker’s majestic imagination lines the walls of the UW Tower

• By Ren Nguyen The Daily 

  • Feb 1, 2018

Take a stroll down the hallways of the mezzanine at the UW Tower and step into the whimsical world of Stephen J. Walker’s works. 

A Seattle-based artist, Walker’s work is distinct in its fanciful expression and expressive humor. From fantastical drawings, to car designs, to illustrated storybooks, the exhibited pieces are evidence of his vast and vibrant imagination.

Walker’s passion for car design extends past his stylistically bulbous car models to his tendency to depict various vehicular objects floating through air or atop drifting waters. His pieces all embody this creatively adventurous mood, stimulating imaginative spirals into dream-like realms.

Those of his works that do include color are evocative in their classic, 1950’s style scheme. Walker’s typical palette contains the pastel-plus-primary-color charm of a retro diner combined with that of the Alice in Wonderland tea cups ride at Disneyland, creating an entrancing contradictory atmosphere of nostalgia and wonder.

Many of his illustrations depict some sort of fantasy setting with both old-timey and futuristic styles that conglomerate as a splendidly confusing scene. Cars seem to slither like snakes. Live, monstrous creatures take the places of animal statues on a carousel. A mechanical snail ship passes through the streets surrounded by undulating architecture. City buildings are made of oversized household objects or, perhaps, household objects are situated as edifices in tiny towns.

The ever-so-slight line variations within his drawings create a sense of movement and liveliness, while the intricacies of the textures and emotions of the subjects captivate the eye. Each scene feels like a movie still, caught just at the climax, offering a wealth of detail accompanying little information about the situational context.

The subjects of his works are often semi-magical: oversized bird-like creatures, men with wonky proportions, and countless other characters that carry some fairytale reminiscence in their expressions. They seem to peer just beyond the two-dimensional surface of the paper, pulling the outside world into these cartoonishly delightful domains.

“Opening Night” depicts a sea of oddities parading forward as if toward the viewer in a marvelous hubbub. Walker’s pen cultivates a universe of personality within this crowd of sassy animals, personas in familiar costumes, and a creature that resembles a cross between Pinocchio and the Jack in the Box guy, all surrounding one giant, curious character in the center.

Perhaps this piece preludes the reception for Storming the Tower, which will be held on Jan. 26. from 4-7 p.m. at the UW Tower located at 4333 Brooklyn Ave NE. The exhibit will be open until March 31.

 

Reach writer Ren Nguyen at arts@dailyuw.com.