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Arts & Entertainment

Abstract Artist Advises: Be Radical

Elke Albrecht, an accomplished New York artist, held a lecture and workshop on abstract art, at the Farmington Valley Arts Center.

"Don't be afraid to be radical. You have nothing to lose," artist Elke Albrecht told participants in a lecture and workshop this week at the Farmington Valley Arts Center. Her statement resonated with one audience member, who wrote "Be Radical" in the upper right hand corner of her sketchbook.

Albrecht, the arts center's newest artist, gave a two-hour lecture on abstract art on April 13. The workshop continued on April 14 and 15.

During the lecture, Albrecht discussed the history of abstract art and her own personal journey as an artist. After the discussion, she had the group complete a series of exercises designed to put them into an abstract mindset: seeing shapes and forms, not images. For example, a person who is abstracting could look at a house and see a rectangle, not a house.

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According to Albrecht, creating abstract art is not the same as abstracting. Artists abstract when their creations are based on something tangible. Abstract art, on the other hand, is a line, shape or form created solely by the artist. Pablo Picasso was often referred to as an abstract artist, which he disliked. He didn't consider himself an abstract artist because his work was based on real-life images.

"The interpretation is up to me," Albrecht said. "I like that freedom."

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Albrecht started her journey as an artist at a young age. She decided to draw flowers for her mother as a Mother's Day present, but nothing she drew resembled flowers. In a state of frustration, she threw together a quick painting she thought looked terrible. She intended to throw it away until her father walked into the room and praised her work. Her mother loved the painting and still has it today.

Albrecht received a master's degree in art from a German university and continued her studies at the National Academy of Fine Arts and The Art Students League of New York.

In 2009, she was invited to join the artists of the OK Harris Gallery in SoHo. The founder of this acclaimed gallery played a role in establishing the careers of noted pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

"Try to feel as though you have never made a piece of art before," Albrecht told the group. "Feel entirely free. Do what you feel like is right at the moment." 

At the lecture, participants were asked to bring a small, personal object to the workshop. The objects were used in a series of six exercises during the workshop.

Albrecht said her goal for the lecture and workshops was to help her students "see what [they] have never seen before."

The workshop was taught in a fun and playful manner. Albrecht said she doesn't want anyone to feel stressed out while creating art.

"You cannot do anything wrong in art," Albrecht said.

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