Richard Stankiewicz, Visiting Artist Lecture 1960

Richard Stankiewicz begins his lecture by briefly talking about his work, stating how he has always been interested in old machinery and junk metal scraps in order to put them together into compositions which carry his ideas. Stankiewicz then engages in an intimate conversation with the students where he shares his thoughts on what it means to be a working artist. Stenkiewicz begins by telling the students that every person is a special kind of artist. Stankiewicz believes that communication and strong impressions are important qualities to cultivate as an artist. Communication has to be structured in an artificial way with logic and an element of order in it. Stankiewicz believes that originality is a valuable trait to cultivate as an artist, for it allows them to create something in a way that no one else has. If originality is executed in a genuine way of seeing and doing things, other people will have their vision improved which will allow for more variety around the way of seeing. Stankiewicz believes that really important, original thought has come as a result of following familiar patterns to their end. When an artist arrives at the end, they must make up where they go from there, and do it according to the systems they have already been using. Artists then must believe in their work and process, and explain what it is they’re doing. Stankiewicz warns the students that they should not concern themselves with acting like geniuses or “great” artists, for the “great” artists who have made their mark in history were never conscious of the fact that they were great. Stankiewicz states that if they have an idea of infinite purity, they have to find the right medium to match that idea. Stankiewicz warns the students that they must not fall into the trope of the poor artist, for suffering is easy: they must believe what they’re interested in, and do what they like. Stankiewicz then goes on to tell the students that they must exhibit everything they can, as often as they can, whenever they can, and wherever they can. Stankiewicz ends his lecture by telling the students that character will always be more important than talent. He has never seen someone with weak character who is also a good artist, and that ultimately there is nothing great that is produced by small people.