Let’s have a closer look at one of the paintings in that show at the Ethical Humanist Society: acrylic on canvas, 40” x 30,” by Robert Frankel. We might call it Keep It Moving.
Isn’t that what happens when you look at this? Your eye and mind are restless, moving all the time.
How can that be? There’s no narration, no hint of horses on the beach or racecars taking a curve or birds in flight. The whole composition is nothing but rectangles, all placed solidly and stodgily on one of their sides. Nothing tips, everything says STABILITY. But does it? If the composition were stable, you’d doze off. Instead, your mind is jumpin’ as it does when you listen to jazz.
These rectangles are flat, you say, isn’t that what rectangles are, flat? Yes, they are flat. But, if they’re flat, how is it that this image draws you in to puzzle out your sense of depth?
And what is that white rectangle with the thin horizontal black one doing there in the midst of all this popping color? Imagine this white/black thing in any other color combination. See? Gotcha!
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/exhibit-at-ethical-humanist-society/
All contents copyright (C) 2010 Katherine Hilden. All rights reserved.
artamaze by Katherine Hilden 
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