Paul Georges, Resident Artist Lecture 1972

Paul Georges gives a lecture at Skowhegan where he shows slides from the last thirteen years of work in his painting practice. Georges begins his lecture by criticizing the slide as a tool of art education, stating that it loses the physical reality of the painting which is half of what he is interested in. He goes on to explain that painting and being able to see his old works allows him the pleasure of seeing how his perspective has changed over time and to create a past for himself. Georges warns participants not to destroy their work, as then they will lose this pleasure of a past for themselves, and create a big handicap for their development. Georges then goes on to talk more in depth about his painting practice. For him, being a contemporary painter is symbolized by the process of placing the horizon in his work. In his painting practice, Georges is seeking a way for people to be together, define relationships, and remove the alienation between people. Georges mentions the importance of having something to connect one’s paintings to. Georges ends the lecture by telling participants that when they learn how to speak the language of art, they are obligated to say something, for if they don’t say anything, they will be deemed as nothing.