Local artist, novelist defines role of abstract art through Cedar Rapids library exhibit

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new abstract art exhibit at the Cedar Rapids Public Library hopes to show that, sometimes, less is more.

Springville resident Sam Weis’ new exhibit, aptly titled ‘Ten Paintings,’ embodies simplicity through two sets of acrylic paintings to define a kind of art often left unexplained to the layman — two sides of the same coin appearing side by side.

“With all of these paintings, in both sets, I would like for people to realize that they’re going to see just what they need to see at that moment,” said Weis. “A lot of people look at abstracts, and they’re looking for (something hidden.) This isn’t going to happen with these.”

The first set

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The first set, a series of “color field” paintings, reserves a space of 48 by 36 inches, for most, using just two shades of a color on each canvas — blue, yellow, red, white and green.

The series of five, prompted by reading the script for the Tony-winning Broadway play “Red,” draws heavy inspiration from the work of Mark Rothko, a Latvian-American abstract painter who produced similar paintings from 1949 to 1970.

“Everything is frequency, vibration — colors are just like sound. It’s moving, not at a very fast rate, but nonetheless has a type of motion,” Weis explained. “When you stand there, you begin to see them a lot differently than they appear in photos.”

The series, while simple, is not rudimentary. With irregular, coarse textures, the squares within squares can posit a definition of art capable of reaching even the casual viewer.

For some, the simplicity of these abstracts may make the illustration of that principal more digestible. By defining what makes abstract art real art, it makes a case for the definition of art itself.

In a world increasingly focused on being utilitarian function or practical design, the artist said art is what separates humans from automatons, teaching the significance of life in the process.

“Art is for itself. It’s not a wrench, it’s not a pan, it has no function for being,” Weis said. “It’s purpose is to free us from being locked into our daily lives, which can be drudgery sometimes. It lets us stop.”

And in a world that challenges her constitution of art, she believes it’s important for the world to enjoy these forms of expression more — not less.

The second set

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The second set, described as red flower blooms, allow the viewer freedom to interpret a contrasting curation of colors that may brighten their day.

Using 40- by 30-inch canvases, Weis hopes to imbue a good sense of energy — perhaps happiness — that comes from a color which carries a wide range of connotations across cultures and contexts. She resists describing the flowers as poppies, which are often associated with war.

“Red is such a powerful color. It has so many connotations for different people. Some people see it as a color that represent evil and bad blood, even death,” Weis said. “I look at red as passion — the good kind. As a painter, they’re very freeing to paint because the shape becomes what it wants to become.”

With a certain edge to her blooms, it may seem like some flowers are crawling across the canvas.

Oriented more toward composing a juxtaposition of complementary colors, Weis found personal joy by setting her blooms on floating fields of gold, green and blue. Unlike other joyful works she’s produced in the past under inspiration from Jackson Pollock, she said this series is set relatively free of tension.

This set’s paint application, reminiscent of pop artists from the 1960s, may evoke similar feelings to early work from Andy Warhol, Weis said.

“I like to leave (paint) alone sometimes — let it be what it wants to be,” she said. “If they’re looking at it for longer than eight seconds, I think I’ve accomplished something. I want them to pause and ponder.”

Background

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Weis, a Cedar Rapids native, is no stranger to exhibits. She first learned to love art as a child who coped with boring social functions by becoming enamored with drawing. She credits good art teachers at Taft Junior High School and Jefferson High School with keeping her interest.

The Springville resident, now 72, has displayed her talents in several mediums over the years. The guitarist has worked as a musician, painter and photographer over the course of her life in Chicago, Seattle and the Florida Keys.

She returned to Cedar Rapids several years ago, and has focused more on painting over the last six years.

In 2019, she published “Abstraction,” a novel about an artist whose paintings provoke inexplicable personality changes that catch the attention of the Department of Homeland Security.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.