Art Review: Eric Beltz

I'm currently enrolled in Art 1C, so I guess that's going to make this weekly art review a little easier. This week's artist Eric Beltz exhibited his unique variety of what he called "obsessions," ranging from botany, origin myths, and a fascination with swastikas. It was hard to believe some of the words coming out of the somewhat soft-spoken, introverted man behind the podium. He showed us his graphite drawings and the photos and scenery that inspired them. Beltz's work is extremely detailed and precise--he uses mechanical pencils with .3-.5 millimeter lead to create fine lines in his black & white scenes. I thought his technique was really impressive. He said he probably erases more than he draws, and yet he ends up with almost computer-generated images.

While I admire his passion and dedication to his interests, I can't honestly say they have mass appeal. He seemed so carried away with describing different types of plants, their medicinal usage, their shape, their formal names, etc. Such a scientific interest is present in his work--almost all of his images include a specific type of plant for a very specific purpose. Beltz's art also contains a lot of symbols I find creepy. Skeleton soldiers and naked witches surrounded by obscene text aren't really my thing. And yet he has good intentions behind all his creations. He pulls from a direct connection with his environment, culture, and history. Even if some find his work a little bizarre, at least it has accuracy or relevance to society.

Take-aways from Beltz's presentation:

1. Carry a camera with me wherever I go--inspiration for future work is everywhere

2. Don't be concerned with creating traditional art for the sake of sales--explore something deeper that relates to my life, my passions