Jack Beal, Visiting Artist Lecture 1970

Jack Beal offers biographical information relative to his career as a painter in a slide lecture which begins with abstract paintings he did in art school in the mid 1950s, moving into abstractions from nature, and eventually to a naturalistic style. The narrative associated with the paintings is largely descriptive of the subject matter with anecdotes about the circumstances under which which the work was created; titles are not given. He discusses his interest in using mirrors and other devices to explore formal and conceptual issues. Following the slides, Beal speaks of his personal philosophy and of the importance of and need for connections, both within works of art and between artists and the outside world. He also discusses his aspirations to create art which is more accessible to the masses and which will lead to social change. He is outspoken in expressing his opinions of individual artists, art critics and trends and movements.