December 15, 2006

William F. Wilson II Named Tracy Grand Theatre Art Gallery Supervisor

Tracy, Calif. - The City of Tracy Cultural Arts division announces that William F. Wilson II is the Gallery Supervisor for the future Art Gallery at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, effective immediately. The Center, located on Central Avenue in downtown Tracy, is scheduled to open in early summer 2007.

Mr. Wilson comes to the Tracy position from Stockton, Calif. where he served as gallery curator and director of the L.H. Horton Gallery at Delta Center for the Arts, San Joaquin Delta College, for six years. While there, he presented 50 exhibitions featuring local, regional, national and international artists while working to make the facility one of the finest in San Joaquin County, serving both the campus and greater community.

Prior to relocating to California in 2001, Mr. Wilson served as exhibition designer and special project consultation for Trumbull Art Gallery in Warren, Ohio.

Mr. Wilson's early career was spent in his native Northeaster Ohio, developing a reputation as a fine artist and activist. During this time, he founded The Bone Hole, a collective of artists working to culturally reinvigorate the area. In addition, he was a member of the inaugural staff of the McDonough Museum of Art at Youngstown State University and, during the 1990s, was Artist in Residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts at New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

At the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Mr. Wilson will be responsible for the City of Tracy's season of art exhibitions in the new gallery and the public art program for the Cultural Arts Commission. He will also supervise arts program staff for the educational programs and work with artists, local arts groups and commissions.

"Mr. Wilson will spearhead development of Tracy's fine arts program at the new Grand Theatre Center for the Arts," says Arts Program Manager Theresa Yvonne. "He brings to this position a wealth of experience and knowledge and a passion for the arts that will benefit our new facility and the entire community."