Documentary | 2021 |USA | 62 min | Digital

John Wilcox: The Relinquishment of Time

When an artist dies, what happens to their artwork? This is the story of one man’s journey to posthumously archive and exhibit his brother’s artistic estate, and a window into the personal motives behind minimalist art.

FILMED & EDITED BY: Exploredinary

PRODUCED BY: The Ioannes Project

WHERE TO WATCH

Hoffman House |July 31.21| Hill Country Film Fest

Angelika Theatre |Oct. 03, 2021| Dallas Video Fest

North Texas PBS |Oct. 28, 2021| on KERA's Frame of Mind

Modern Art Museum Fort Worth |Nov. 11-14, 2021| Lone Star Film Fest

University of Texas at Dallas |April 21, 2022| Edith O'Donnell Institute of Art History

Dallas Museum of Art |April 22, 2022| Horchow Auditorium

LGBT International Film Fest |Oct 6, 2022| San Antonio Q Fest

Online Streaming |Aug, 2023| Now Available

WINNER

Hill Country Film Festival 2021 BEST TEXAS FILM

Lone Star Film Festival 2021 BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

BACK

WATCH THE FILM

BOOK SET

DR. DAVID WILCOX

When abstract painter John Wilcox died in 2012, he left behind a massive collection of artworks. John didn’t leave behind instructions for what to do with his life’s work though. Instead, that decision was inherited by his brother David Wilcox who set off on a multiyear journey to memorialize John by having the works archived, cataloged, and exhibited.

THE ART OF JOHN WILCOX

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John Wilcox The Relinquishment of Time brings new life to the artist’s body of work. It reveals how experience shapes decisions and process. And helps audiences to understand that every stroke of the paintbrush can hold meaning. But more importantly, the film reveals that family and brotherhood can be a form of art itself. An artform that nourishes the soul, enlightens the mind and brings life to the body.

Discover more of John's art at:

https://johnwilcoxart.com

CURATORS, HISTORIANS, & EXPERTS

“John’s work works in both ways – both as apparently cool and apparently uninvolved with the emotional aspect of the world,” said Dr. Richard Brettell, founder of the Edith O’Donnell institute of Art History at the University of Texas-Dallas. “[But] then as you plummet it and get to know about the mark makings and [John’s] reasons for doing things you begin to understand that it too is an art which has as much depth as any work by Van Gogh or Delacroix.”

THE FILMMAKERS

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We are a filmmaking couple comprised of: Sarah Reyes and Daniel Driensky, and our collaborative is called Exploredinary. The documentary work that we pursue is primarily focused around arts and culture.

We were initially introduced to David Wilcox in 2017 as he was hoping to document an exhibit at the Wilcox Space prior to its dismantling, and we discussed making a 10 minute artist profile. However, upon visiting the space, we were immediately struck by the quality of the paintings as well as the prestigious curatorial work involved.

Initially, we had no frame of reference for abstract minimalist art, but as David began to share personal stories of his brother, John, the more it brought the work to life for us, and the more our understanding and appreciation for the art form grew. We knew that sharing John's story could also help others gain an appreciation for this underrepresented genre.

Working on a posthumous documentary was particularly challenging because our main character was unavailable for commentary. This created a situation where we were forced to seek experts in various fields to help us piece together who John really was; historically, as an artist, and as a human being.

We were led down a path that would change our lives forever. John's philosophy of life was revealed to us slowly through his friends, family and the historians that researched his work. We were touched by the struggles he endured, and inspired by the obstacles he overcame through his art.

Although we never got the opportunity to meet John, we feel like we can sense his presence through his work. The sound of his voice echoes in our thoughts as we recall quotes from the recordings he left behind, which continue to provide us with valuable lessons.

Above all, John has modeled bravery and authenticity for us. He came to terms with being gay in rural Texas, he developed a serious art practice in a competitive field, he lived through the AIDS epidemic in NYC, and he was afflicted with serious medical conditions that brought his life to an early end. Despite it all, he never gave up on being himself, never wavered at pursuing the things he was passionate about - something we can all learn from.