Spencer Finch Lecture: 09/24/09

Visiting artist, Spencer Finch, was born in New Haven, CT in 1962 and currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He earned a BA in Comparative Literature from Hamilton College Clinton in NY and a MFA in sculpture in 1989 from Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. Before embarking on his educational path in the US, he attended the Doshita University in Kyoto, Japan from 1983-1984.
The painting and printmaking department put this lecture on and I went into this lecture thinking we were going to be looking at slides of oils, pastels, and two dimensional work. I was completely blown away when he not only began showing several slides of his paintings but he got into the science of his color making strategies and how he incorporates that into his sculpture. With a good amount of his work that he showed today, Finch would visit a natural area, soak up his surroundings, and either measure the light with instruments to get the right intensity and color or he would simply take his paints out to the site and patiently sit, mix, and compare until he got the color. One of his works that he spoke of for measuring the light and color was his piece titled Walden Pond. Finch went out to Walden Pond and measured the natural scenery by comparing the colors to swatches from a Monet painting. Finch uses his influences like Whitman, Dickens, and Monet to power the ideas in his work.
Currently, Finch is working on a project for the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He is working on the facades of both the child and adults wings creating an affect from the outside using specific colors of tinted glass. When he spoke about this project he said it was more about the construction and design aspect than creating a concept and making a piece from that concept. Another sculpture that he recently just completed was an installation at the Highline Park in NY, NY. He spent an entire day on a boat on the Hudson and matched the colors of the Hudson throughout the day. He then recreated the colors of the Hudson using colored glass and installing it square by square in a portion of the Highline Park.
I really enjoyed his lecture. I felt that he spoke intelligently about his work but still maintained humility and did not get ahead of his audience. I find it very great and rewarding how much travel and research he does before he even begins a new piece. It is clear to viewer that he solidifies his ideas beforehand and has a solid ground underneath each piece before he even begins production. Good choice Painting and Printmaking Department!

NY Times Article on Finch