Paul Resika, Resident Artist Lecture 1973

Paul Resika gives a lecture talking about his painting practice which spans still life, portraiture, and landscape, as well as his exploration with abstract expressionism. Resika is interested in creating sensations with figurations in his painting practice, and talks about the wide variety of materials he has used in his paintings. Some of the themes he explores in his work include sensitivity, ecstasy, rebirth, erotica, sexuality, and love. Resika explains the other mediums his paintings have led him too, which include photography, sculpture, working with marble, and stone carving in particular, which emerged from his interest in portraiture. He also reflects on how abstraction has led on him to explore light and space and he discusses how these things emerge from our experiences. Resika ends his lecture telling participants that there are masterpieces out there for them to see, and seeing a masterpiece is something they will never forget in their mortal life. He further articulates that it is the artists duty to find masterpieces and approach them. When they do this, it will allow them to explore any subject or narrative they would like, and this will lead them to sit with the unknown.