William Schaff

William J. Schaff Jr. (born February 6, 1973) is a Providence, Rhode Island-based artist "An electric turn with literary pop" (on Okkervil River albums), Elisabeth Donnelly, Globe Correspondent, "The Boston Globe", Sep. 2007, states "Rhode Island artist William Schaff", webpage: [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/09/21/an_electric_turn_with_literary_pop/ BostonGlobe2007-09] .] and musician, who has created the detailed art for all of the Jagjaguwar releases of Okkervil River and artwork for other music albums, including for the bands and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. "About the Artist: William Schaff" (bio) Melanie Haupt, "Austin Chronicle", April 2005, webpage: [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=264983 Austin-Chronicle-983] .] "artscope Capsule Previews" (of area artists), Brian Goslow, features editor, "Artscope Magazine", September/October 2007, mentions William Schaff as Providence area artist, webpage: [http://www.artscopemagazine.com/asdyn/index.wr?is=9&a=23 Artsco] .]

Art

Much of Schaff's art addresses the Holocaust. His work also explores the tensions of urban life, as well as consequences of, and responses to, terrorism. Schaff's pieces include paintings, drawings, collages, scratchboards, mail art, motion pictures, and comics. Schaff is known for his cover art on releases from recording artists Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Kid Dakota, Okkervil River, [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A264983] and . [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/under_the_covers/william-schaff.htm] A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, Schaff has exhibited and lectured at the United States Air Force Academy, the Rhode Island School of Design, and East Carolina University.

An example of William Schaff's artwork for music albums is the cover art for album "Magnolia Electric Co." recorded by the band and released on March 4, 2003 ("see image at right"); the music received universal critical acclaim according to Metacritic (with a composite rating of 85, ranking 24th among best albums of 2003).

Music

During college in Baltimore, he led the now-defunct Reformation as vocalist and songwriter. Subsequently, he performed under the adopted name Noel the Coward, singing and playing guitar. He also was part of the four piece musical act I Love You And I Miss You. Since moving to Providence in 1998, Schaff has played guitar and percussion with The Eyesores and Black Forest/Black Sea. He currently performs as the drumming ape “Chop Chop” in the Providence marching band, What Cheer? Brigade.

References

External links

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/samsa1973/ The Artwork of William Schaff] .

* [http://www.providencestreetband.com/ What Cheer? Marching Band] .

* [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=264983 "About the Artist: William Schaff"] from Austin Chronicle.

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20000310/ai_n9968623/ "Unsettling Images/Artist's Images of Holocaust Horror Aim to Arouse"] from The Gazette (Colorado Springs).

* [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/09/21/an_electric_turn_with_literary_pop/ "An Electric Turn with Literary Pop"] Schaff's cover art for Okkervil River discussed in a Boston Globe article.