John Button , Resident Artist Lecture 1975

John Button shows a series of slides of his paintings and gouaches. Button talks about the influence abstract expressionism had on his practice and how it has provided a new energy that was right from the soul; an energy that wasn’t political. For Button, this energy is something else which comes from learning about the free use of paint and the importance of composing a picture while also paying attention to the edges of the canvas. Button says that this way of working eventually leads him to becoming a landscape painter, particularly the landscapes of New York City. Button tells the participants that when one makes art, they must make art to live in the present in order to recognize what the present looks like. Button urges participants to tell their story in the best way possible and try not to create too many discrepancies for yourself. Button further tells participants that if they are going to do something narrative, they should do it in an absolutely straightforward manner and not use paint academically. Button ends the lecture telling the participants that art is about being in the present and not worry too much about the past or the future.