Although I haven’t met or talked with Robert A. Williams and thus don’t know his thinking, I did attend the 9/2/2011 opening reception for his ambrotypes exhibition at Corporate & Museum Frame entitled “Morphogenesis.” The photos, some depicting nude male figures, are out of the ordinary enough – both in content and mood (chilly) - that they will cause you to pause and contemplate. Which of course is what good art does. “Ambrotype” is a photographic process that involves a glass plate. “Morphogenesis” refers to the biological process that causes an organism to develop a certain shape.

On 9/1/2011 I picked up a free copy of PODIUM III at CVS. This is the printed “literary and arts journal for Richmond youth” published by the Podium Foundation. I haven’t met or talked with any of the writers – and artists – so I don’t know their thinking, but this 90-page volume summons the same flavor of contemplation and pausation (made-up word) as does the Morphogenesis exhibition. One thing certain about the content is that it comes from the heart and gut; you’ll realize that from the start. And of course that’s a quality of good art.