Retrospective: The Art of Sam Feinstein
May 31 – July 27, 2008

Slide Lectures – The Sam Feinstein Retrospective

May 31 – July 27, 2008

Saturday, July 5^th, 3pm:

Rembrandt, Inspiration for Abstraction:   The Art of Sam Feinstein

As a young artist, Sam Feinstein was widely known in the Philadelphia area for his portraits and etchings that were reminiscent of the work of Rembrandt.  Ultimately, however, Feinstein was drawn toward abstraction and spent the last fifty years of his life creating radiant, richly colored abstract paintings, while he continued to call Rembrandt his hero.  The outer look of paintings may change, but their inner spirit and the means by which this is conveyed have much in common.  This slide talk explores the influence of Rembrandt on Feinstein’s painting, and the dynamic relationship between the work of these two artists.

Thursday, June 19^th, 11 am:

“Abstract Expressionism” and the Art of Sam Feinstein

The paintings of NYC/Cape artist Sam Feinstein are often referred to as abstract expressionist—and more precisely, second-generation, gestural abstraction—but Feinstein himself had questions about this terminology and its implications.  This slide talk will focus on the legacy of the abstract expressionists and their relationship to the art of Sam Feinstein.  An open discussion will follow the talk. 

Lecturer:

Patricia Stark Feinstein is an independent curator, painter, teacher of art and art history for over 20 years, and co-teacher for 18 years with her husband Sam Feinstein of art workshops in Toronto , Canada .  She is also the author of the monograph on the art of Feinstein published in May, 2008.  Ms. Stark Feinstein has lectured at the museum since 1998 and is currently director of the Feinstein Project at CCMA and guest curator of the Feinstein retrospective exhibition.

Films for the Sam Feinstein Retrospective

May 31 – July 27, 2008

Saturday, May 31^st, 4:30 pm:

Thursday, July 24^th, 6pm:

Hans Hofmann [1950]

by Sam Feinstein, narration co-written by Hofmann

            The 30 minute documentary titled Hans Hofmann was created as a collaboration between Hofmann and artist/director/producer Sam Feinstein during the summers of 1950-51 in Provincetown .  Together they wrote the narration while the filming, editing and final production was completed as a solo venture by Feinstein.  The focus of the film is on the philosophy and principles of art as conveyed by Hofmann in his classes and writings, and as made evident in the process of his own painting.  A ten minute sequence in the film shows Hofmann painting The Window, a work now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Thursday, July 24^th, 6pm:

Sam Feinstein at the Metropolitan Museum [1999]

slide talk at the premier screening of Hans Hofmann

            This film, produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York following the premier screening of the film Hans Hofmann in 1999, documents the slide talk given by Sam Feinstein at the museum.  Pictures taken in Hofmann’s studio in 1950 are shown and described by Feinstein in relation to the film.  Feinstein studied with Hofmann from 1949 until 1952 and was asked by Hofmann to continue teaching the classes when Hofmann retired in 1957.  In this film, Feinstein shows other Hofmann paintings and adds further insights about the contribution Hofmann made to art through his painting and teaching. 

Sunday, June 15^th, 1pm:

Sam Feinstein at Scargo [1986]

a film produced by Paul Fitzgerald

An interview with Sam Feinstein in front of his paintings

            This film was produced by Cape resident Paul Fitzgerald with the cooperation of Harry Holl during Sam Feinstein’s exhibition of paintings at the Scargo Stoneware Pottery twenty years ago.  In the film, Feinstein refers to various paintings on view as he responds to questions posed by Holl and Fitzgerald, and as Fitzgerald states:  “Sam’s use of words was as great as his use of paint.”  The film illuminates the art of abstraction as exemplified and expressed by Feinstein, an academically trained artist and teacher who painted and taught for seventy years prior to his death in 2003. 

[This film may also be seen in the gallery during the retrospective.]

SUMMER 2006:

Films at the Cape Cod Museum of Art
Dennis, MA 02638

“Sam’s Show at Scargo,”

 An Interview with Sam Feinstein, 1986

Thursday, July 20, 2006, 7 – 8:30 pm:

A Reception will follow the screening at
The Harvest Gallery
Main Street
Dennis , MA

      After summering throughout the 1950s in Provincetown, artist Sam Feinstein withdrew to a quiet barn-studio in the town of Dennis to continue his painting and teaching.  His deeply held belief in the creation of art as a logical extension of nature and a path to growth of the human spirit inspired all his work.   Feinstein had shown his paintings, drawings and prints extensively during the 1930s, 40s and 50s and was an active member of the art communities of New York, Philadelphia and Provincetown as art critic, juror, lecturer and teacher.  His withdrawal in the early 1960s to concentrate on his own painting and private teaching led to a 25 year hiatus in exhibiting.  As a result, Feinstein’s 1986 exhibition at the Scargo Stoneware Pottery Gallery, after years of urging by his friend and gallery-owner Harry Holl, was a much anticipated event.

     A documentary of this exhibition, including an extensive interview with the artist, was created under the guidance and patronage of Cape resident Paul Fitzgerald whose wife Bunny was a student of Feinstein’s.  The film begins with a fly-over of Scargo Lake followed by scenes from the opening reception which convey the beauty and ambiance of gallery, art and nature entwined.  Later, as Feinstein is interviewed by Holl and Fitzgerald in front of his paintings, the richness of his insights into the language of art is made evident.  As Fitzgerald states, “Sam’s use of words was as great as his use of paint.” Especially illuminating is Feinstein’s explanation of the expressive qualities of abstraction, using words that were refined over decades following his academic training, his study and friendship with Hans Hofmann and his life as master teacher.

      Prior to the screening of this film, Harry Holl and producer Paul Fitzgerald will join Patricia Stark Feinstein to discuss its creation during Sam Feinstein’s exhibition of paintings at the Scargo Stoneware Pottery twenty years ago.

Hans Hofmann

followed by

Discussion with Filmmaker Sam Feinstein at MMA

Tuesday, August 1^st, 2 pm

      The 30 minute documentary titled Hans Hofmann was created as a collaboration between Hofmann and artist/director/producer Sam Feinstein during the summers of 1950-51 in Provincetown .  Together they wrote the narration while the filming, editing and final production was completed as a solo venture by Feinstein.  The filming itself took place in Hofmann’s classes as well as in his private studio and outdoors on the cape and in New York City .  Feinstein’s prior experience as an art educator, filmmaker and Hofmann student inspired the project.  The focus of the film is on the philosophy and principles of art as conveyed by Hofmann in his classes and writings, and as made evident in the process of his own painting.  A ten minute sequence in the film shows Hofmann painting “The Window,” a work now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

      In 1965, Hofmann wrote to Feinstein:

            I hope you can complet (sic.) the realization of the great film
            about my scholarly and artistic activity that did so much engage your
            time and creative energy.
            I am totally in simpathy (sic.) with the entire film.

                                                              Most sincerely,
                                                              Hans Hofmann

      The second film to be shown, Discussion with the Filmmaker Sam Feinstein at MMA, was produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on October 8, 1999 .  Following their screening of his film, Feinstein spoke before a standing-room-only crowd to answer questions and to explain his work with Hofmann in creating the film. Photographs taken in Hofmann’s studio are shown to reveal the inspiration for the composition of “The Window.”  Feinstein expands this discussion with an analysis of several Hofmann paintings, and concludes with a final tribute he had written to Hofmann.

Rembrandt, Inspiration for Abstraction: The Art of Sam Feinstein
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 7 pm
“Rembrandt is my hero” was a phrase often spoken by Sam Feinstein whose radiant, richly colored paintings appear to be abstract. While the outer look of paintings change, their inner spirit and the means by which this is conveyed have much in common. This slide talk explores the influence of Rembrandt on the work of NYC/Cape artist Sam Feinstein, whose painting “Summertime” was on display at CCMA during the past year.

“Abstract Expressionism” and the Art of Sam Feinstein
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 7 pm
 The paintings of NYC/Cape artist Sam Feinstein are often referred to as abstract expressionist, although Feinstein himself had questions about this terminology. This slide talk will focus on the legacy of the abstract expressionists and their relationship to the art of Sam Feinstein. An open discussion will follow.