By Sonia Schnee | Posted Wednesday, May 22, 2019
From now until May 30th, the unmatchable Will Wood — artist, musician, performer, and more — will be unveiling an ambitious multimedia experience in Asbury Park, NJ, featuring never-before-seen works of art, a new concert film, and new music. Entitled “HEAD,” this impressive exhibit is sure to be something you won’t soon forget! Find our more from Will Wood himself in our interview below.
Tell us about Will Wood’s HEAD. What is it, when is it, where is it? What can people expect to see, hear, and feel?
WILL WOOD: This May, I’m going to be taking over a historical building in downtown Asbury Park (529 Bangs Avenue) and turning by brain inside out in it. HEAD is a multimedia experimental art exhibit featuring music, film, intimate performances, and the first ever exhibit of my psychedelic visual art. It’ll be running from May 13th till May 30th, it’ll be completely unlike anything else I’ve ever done, and it’ll be a landmark/milestone event for me as an artist.
Why Asbury Park?
Asbury Park is one of the cultural capitals of New Jersey, and a second hometown of mine. I spent a lot of my youth in Neptune, did a lot of my earliest art projects down by the boardwalk, and played a number of my early and most formative shows in Asbury Park.
Many people know you for your musical talent. What inspired you to finally showcase your visual art, and what is the inspiration behind your work?
In October of 2011, I took LSD. At the end of that night, toward the tail end of one of the most powerful experiences of my life, I sat at a bench on a college campus in upstate New York covered in ink, with a handful of markers, and began drawing. I haven’t stopped. I had always hoped that my music career would get me to a place where I could find an audience for the other types of work I do, and I’m finally at a place where I have a platform for my art. Art inspired by altered states, surreal experiences, and visions I’ve had without the use of any substances.
Tell us about your concert film, The Real Will Wood. Where was it shot, what was the production process like? Do you have any other films in the works?
The Real Will Wood is the result of two years of confusion. Shot at some of the most iconic and bizarre places in New Jersey, and featuring never-before-heard or seen performances, TRWW is a feature-length concert film with a very unusual bent.
Will Wood’s HEAD is an ambitious and impressive undertaking! What words of advice or encouragement would you give to other artists or entrepreneurs out there who would like to attempt something similar?
Thank you. HEAD is the inevitable culmination of the last two years of my career, I hope it’s as impressive as it sounds. If you’re hoping to do something similar, wait until I’m done first so I don’t have to compete with you.
What advice or encouragement would you give to kids out there who are maybe afraid to share their creativity with the world?
Make something. Anything. Don’t worry about whether or not it’s any good – because odds are you don’t know what’s good. Your audience does. And if they say it’s not good, ignore them and keep making things. Really good art happens by accident, when the results of your unfiltered creating meets the audience’s unknown desires. When you stumble across the thing that people didn’t know they wanted. I have no idea if it’s ever come out of me. We’re going to find out. If I can do that, you definitely can.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
I’ll be talking about it more at HEAD.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
On May 25th and 26th (Memorial Day Weekend) I’m hosting a pair of special, intimate performances at HEAD featuring new music that I hope to be doing some very big stuff with soon. Tickets are limited, and on sale here: https://willwoodandthetapeworms.bigcartel.com/product/will-wood-live-head-the-multimedia-pop-up-gallery-asbury-park-beach
Finally, where can people find out more about you and Will Wood’s HEAD (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, website, etc.)?
Follow me at @therealwillwood on Instagram to stay in the loop. If you wanna stay DEEP in the loop and on the inner circle, find me at patreon.com/willwoodandthetapeworms for exclusive videos, music, writing, art, and discounts on everything I do – definitely the best and closest way to experience my work.