It is rare to find, particularly at the college level, an artist who will base his or her artwork solely on surrealist inspiration the way that Samual Weinberg has done.

 

Beginning Friday, Oct. 7, The Raw Deal will play host to a month-long art exhibit featuring Weinberg’s surrealist paintings, with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. marking the start of the event.

 

Mention a name as famous as Salvador Dali, especially among a group of artistically inclined individuals, and it is almost guaranteed that bizarre images of melting clocks or long-legged elephants will emerge within people’s minds. Paintings by Dali portray key concepts, such as the element of surprise or dreamlike qualities, which surfaced in large quantities across the world during the 1920s- a cultural movement known as Surrealism. Surrealism, meant to play with the mind and force the viewers to really think about what they are seeing, is still present in some forms of art today but is usually blended with other types of inspiration specific to each individual.

 

Weinberg, a University of Wisconsin-Stout senior majoring in studio art with a concentration in painting, conveyed that numerous surrealist artists have had significant influences on his artwork, adding that his paintings could be classified as “modern interpretations of surrealism.” However, a specific painter from the early days of the movement has been dubbed the almighty muse of Samual’s work: Giorgio de Chirico.

 

“Before surrealism, there was metaphysical painting, which was founded by Giorgio de Chirico – a Greek/Italian painter – and surrealism was really influenced by his paintings,” said Weinberg. “I’m more influenced by [de Chirico]’s paintings than [by] what all the surrealists did. I got really interested in how he used shadows and he made a space that is realistic but also a dreamlike place.”

 

Weinberg also named Salvador Dali, René Magritte, Joan Miro and Tyanan Kerr with Andrew Mazorol (two current artists in Minneapolis whom he really looks up to) as other noteworthy catalysts for his paintings.

It was through word of mouth that Weinberg was honored with his show at The Raw Deal. Weinberg explained that, normally, artists will choose locations they would like their work to be showcased, then send a portfolio to those places to be reviewed in hopes that they will be selected for the space.

 

“I was planning on asking them if I could show my work there,” said Weinberg. “It’s a great space. But my friend mentioned to Hope [an employee at The Raw Deal]…that I was making these kinds of paintings and she contacted me and asked if I would like to show them.”

 

The exhibit at The Raw Deal should be an exciting event for all in attendance, but most importantly for Weinberg. Having painted diligently on new pieces since his return this July from a semester spent abroad, Weinberg is finally ready to let others view what he has been working on for these past few months.

 

“People should come see my paintings,” said Weinberg. “There’s definitely nobody at this school doing anything like me. I think it’s a pretty interesting take on what I’m trying to do. The paintings are kind of about themselves, but I think painting should be about making people think. If somebody’s standing in front of a painting and wants to stand there and actually take the time to look at it, I think my paintings are going to do that [make people think]. They’re pretty strong… I worked hard on them; I’d like people to see them for sure.”

 

Samual is very grateful that The Raw Deal is providing space for his paintings and he encourages people to attend.

 

“The opening should be fun,” said Weinberg. “Raw Deal is an incredible place; if people haven’t been there, they should definitely come check it out.”