Ben Frank Moss [Artist Lecture]

The Jonston Science Center auditorium was packed under the chilly Spokane night last Tuesday night as Whitworth Alumni award winner, and more prominently artist, Ben Frank Moss took the microphone.  Originally from the East Coast, Moss crossed the country to study at Whitworth University for his undergraduate degree. After receiving his graduate degree from Boston University he went to on to complete a number of impressive achievements including 13 years of teaching, more than 350 shows worldwide and most importantly, receiving the Whitworth Alumni Award.

I am sure that this event held a special place in Moss’s heart, returning to his undergraduate university. During the event, Moss gave some background on his life and how he came into the fine arts industry of painting. Ultimately the event was held to encourage the students of Whitworth University to develop a greater appreciation and understating for art. Moss recalls when he was studying in upstate New York and he asked a teacher, “Do you think I’m any good at art?” She responded with a question, “Do you love it?” And after saying yes, he launched his career to become a painter.

Moss balances his art between free flowing and technical. He describes his art as pieces that are invented in his head, as opposed to painting something the looks at for reference. He went into great detail about the materials he used for each painting such as the type of paper he uses and the ratio of water to matte medium. Besides that he has a very interesting way of beginning his paintings. He starts with three general colors over the canvas to get rid of the “white pureness.”

Unfortunately, Moss spent little time about the why behind his painting and more about his journey to become a painter and some of his techniques. Those techniques are visible be examining the photo above which is a painting by Moss titled Landscape No. 104. The form of the painting is displayed through thick and textured oil paint. As far as the conceptual side, Moss lives in the abstract realm of art, creating his paintings with symbolism as opposed to realism. He often calls his art mythical and he is very interested in the narrative of the painting. Landscapes make their way as the theme of most of Moss’s paintings as he intends to invoke emotion through them.

From my perspective, the Whitworth community enjoyed Moss’s entertaining and insightful lecture. Moss made a joke about most of the students showing up only for an assignment, however I believe that was not the case as students and faculty asked thoughtful questions.

While I believe that Moss’s paintings have a great deal of beauty, I find it hard to connect with the abstract art that Moss presents. My tendencies tend to lean towards the realistic art because I believe that’s the you can communicate an idea easier or without explanation through that as opposed to abstract art where the viewer may not always know what the artist is trying to communicate without an interpretation.

So that brings me to the question where I would love your input, does art need to be realistic in order to communicate an idea or emotion effectively?