Meet William Engel | Artist, Author, Educator, and Music Minister

We had the good fortune of connecting with William Engel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi William, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I was starting college in the late 70’s, I was told I had to decide on whether to pursue art or music. Of course both were not “known” for secure investments! But I loved both. I knew that in art, no one could upstage me in what I do and how I do it and knew that color and the use of color was a gift of mine. In music I knew I had improvisational and creative skills that others didn’t have, but technically, I was lacking. It’s interesting, that although I have pursued my art over time, I am finding know that serving the community at First Lutheran San Diego as a music director and minister, I am using both my “first’ loves. Balancing time to continue to paint and isolate myself in the studio is sometimes challenging, but I continue to carve out time to do that. I am also finding myself in a position to make creative decisions both musically and visually for the community at First who also serves the community of the homeless four times a week with food and medical care.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Its interesting, art and the making of is not just an object but a process and a life. When people ask you how long it took to make that piece, it’s not two or three months, its 50 years. Along the way, I have found different venues to show that work, or perhaps they found me. What I gain from these shows are insight about where I am and what I have accomplished. And these past shows have taught me were I was in time and in development of my own work. It ahs changed and developed over time and gives me the need to continue and develop more. The art marketing world wants to put you into a category, and I have often found that difficult or constraining, but now as I look to the future, I will embrace that “brand” if you will, and make it my best collection ever. I am excited now to work at a grand scale and a carefully chosen diverse palette. I feel that experience has taught me to narrow down my choices and to focus on what I want toe world to gain by my work, both conceptually and emotionally. MOre and more I am enjoying collaboration. I pent two months working on a large image of Water with Violinist Omari Abdul-Alim. We produced an 8 minute NFT with his playing of the Moonlight Sonata with a process video of me doing a complete work. The NFT will be going on sale in the near future. I am also looking forward to collaborating with sculptor Marco Palli on 3 dimensional works in iron and my coloring and shapes imposed on his great forms from nature. Happy to announce that I have 4 works in a group show at R.B. Stevenson Gallery at 7661 Girard in La Jolla through April.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh, so many things, the theater, both the Old Globe, and La Jolla Playhouse. Georges on the Cove for lunch especially on the roof overlooking the cove and the seals, Balboa Park and the many museums, lunch at Ocean Beach sitting on the second level of South Beach Bar and Grill. I would want them to spend time in my immediate neighborhood and building on Park and Robinson to get to know the warmth of my close neighbors and Rusticucina who always welcomes my visitors with great food and service. San Diego has so many lovely places to visit, I am always pressed for time with friend who come to visit. Architectural tours to visit neighborhoods are always on the Queue list. Burlingame, Mission Hills, Sunset Boulevard, modern architecture on Point Loma and Kensington to name a few. The eclectic quality of the homes always makes for a lively conversation. I recently ran into an early Richard Meyer modernist home, set in the canyon surrounded by traditional Craftsman homes near Mission Hills. that was an eye opener! A walk down University Avenue will always put a smile on your heart, seeing the lgbtq generation thriving and feeling welcomed in their city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been encouraged by my late parents and fully supported especially by my mother to continue and to believe that my gifts were special and were to be pursued. I have always surrounded myself by a positive loving community of faith as well both in NYC and in San Diego. Grace and St Paul’s in NYC and First Lutheran here in San Diego are immense sources of support and love. Nothing could surpass that support that you get from close friends, such as Bil Wright, author, Becket Logan, photographer, Shelly Zacher, graphic designer, Marie Baker Lee, dancer, and brother Paul. All of these close friends are family and are beyond words, and my gratitude for their support over the years cannot by explained.

Website: www.williamengel.net

Instagram: @Williamengelnyc

Facebook: Bill Engel

Image Credits
The one photo is with violinist, Omari Abdul-Alim and should be noted on bottom of photo. Pictured with Paul Engel, brother. And photo of collaboration with Marco Palli, sculptor who did the iron shapes.