Manfred Schwartz, Visiting Artist Lecture 1955

Manfred Schwartz gives a lecture at Skowhegan talking about his artistic practice. Schwartz believes that creating art allows for a search for intelligence, and reminds artists the importance of living in the moment. Schwartz reflects on the spiritual and psychological importance of what it means to create art today and why the meaning of art should be created. Schwartz shares these reflections with the students by also talking about various artists and art movements. Schwartz then tells the students that creative impulses can emerge from oppositions, and that learning to paint is simply learning to see. Schwartz believes that once an artist has learned to see through their paintings, they must learn to carry the burden of enlightenment. Furthermore, if an artist chooses to compromise with the public, they must do it in a way where they have the courage and conviction to stick to their identity.