Trevor Winkfield, Visiting Artist Lecture 2000

Trevor Winfield gives a lecture at Skowhegan that is split into two parts. The first part of Winfield’s lecture is an intimate conversation with the participants. He urges them to always hold onto their talents, and tells them that their talent is fragile and to never neglect it. Winfkeld says to the participants to never turn their back on their talent, because history won’t acknowledge people who give up art to buy a bigger house. Winkfield says that art is a profession, and not a hobby. Winkfield also tells the participants of the importance to always build a community, because nothing will grow in isolation. All artists need a support system in a society; especially a society that has a pathological aversion to culture. Winfkeld finally tells the participants that it important to get rid of the fake notion that art will lead people to financial stability, and to make sure to never confuse art with life. In the second part of his lecture, Winkfield talks about his painting practice; and how for Winkfield it is about creating a world where he feels like he can belong. Winkfield specifically comments on the impact of seeing the 1953 Coronation of the Queen. Watching this as a child formed a narrative for Winkfield in how he would look at paintings. Winfkeld realized that his paintings had to be flat, like a scroll or a book read from left to right. It didn’t matter if Winkfield understand the ritual of the coronation, just as he’s not interested in understanding painting. Winkfield’s real sympathies with busy narratives are about telling stories from left to right, and continuing his interest in paintings that are abstractive and figurative.