Knaus concludes American Art series

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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter

What is art?

Well, there is no easy answer.

Beth Knaus of ArtMatters showed various forms of art since the 1950s as she concluded her three part art series, American Art, hosted by the Friends of the Walpole Library in the library’s Community Room. Before beginning, Knaus warned her audience to have an open mind, as the event would feature a lot of experimental and exploratory art. The event provoked the audience to evaluate their own emotions while looking at each piece of art and considering how each piece could be art.

To begin, Knaus showed Josef Alber’s “Homage to the Square.” Knaus drew laughs from the audience as she commented, “This actually reminds me of a hard boiled egg, to be honest, but to someone else, it might look like something else and draw a different reaction.” She also showed Mark Rothko’s “Orange and Yellow.” The painting, appropriately named due to the colors used in the painting, can draw a variety of emotions from the viewers ranging from happiness to anxiety to fear.

Knaus continued to the 1960s and 70s, during which time optical art gained popularity. She showed Victor Vaserly’s “Cheyt M,” which resembled a computer screensaver, and Bridget Riley’s “Current,” which utilized advanced techniques to create fine, wavy lines. Knaus also talked about installations and sculptures by the artists Louise Nevelson and Alexander Calder. Next, Knaus showed some more abstract pieces, including Jackson Pollock and abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning’s “Woman I,” which presents the image of a monstrous-looking woman. “Expressionists use color to express how they feel while they’re painting,” said Knaus, while pointing out the various colors in “Woman I.”

Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty” elicited interest from the audience as Knaus presented earthworks and temporary installations. “Spiral Jetty,” which was installed off of the northeast shore of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, was constructed out of mud, salt crystals, and rock in a counterclockwise coil. Knaus also mentioned the intricate works of Dale Chihuly, who transformed glassblowing into grandiose sculptures. Next, Knaus presented works from the pop art movement by the famous Andy Warhol, and the comic book imagery of Roy Lichtenstein. Clay Oldenburg’s “Clothespin” sculpture in Philadelphia also impressed the audience because of its massive size. “Oldenburg takes a daily object that’s kind of mundane and makes us notice it,” said Knaus, speaking to the size of the sculpture.

Knaus also encouraged some of the older members of the audience as she spoke about Grandma Moses, an American artist who began her painting career at the age of 78. Knaus threw in that she completed over 200 paintings after turning 100 years old. The event wrapped up with pieces of photo-realism from Richard Estes and George Segal, sensory imagery from Western MA’s Scott Prior, and street art. Knaus recounted the history of two famous street artists, Keith Haring, who became a prominent AIDS awareness artist, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, who quickly struck stardom after being homeless for several years.

“People ask me: Who are the artists now? And I say, we don’t really know because they’re alive,” said Knaus, laughing. To finish the American Art series, Knaus encouraged her audience to buy from a living artist if they react to the piece and to support artists who are still producing work.