Matt Specht opens solo exhibition at McAuliffe's

Local artist Matthew Specht will host an opening reception for his “What You Make It” solo exhibition at McAuliffe’s on the Square on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m.

Specht is something of a Renaissance man when it comes to art: He's a poet, musician and actor. Most recently, he has worked on the BONK! performance series, acted in Racine Theatre Guild productions (Guys and Dolls, Music Man and King O' the Moon), was the songwriter and guitarist for bands The Other Side and Rainy Day Crush, worked on Thoughts for Food and Rock the Block Benefits and the Kenosha Writer's Group and 716 Fine Art Gallery's Inside the Music concerts.

Now we find out that he also paints. His art has been exhibited in local galleries, bars, restaurants and theaters. He says he likes to exhibit outside galleries from "an interest, fascination, and commitment to trying new things."

Specht says he's always been interested in visual art. "Around the time my band went on tour, I started spending a lot of time painting and researching other painters, widening my understanding of art history. I discovered what I had been missing! When my band broke up, I started really pursuing outlets for my visual art. I define my style as Post-Modern Abstract Pop Expressionism."

He uses acrylic paints and builds and stretches his own canvas frames. "I use ink and acrylics when I paint; they are fast, immediate media that help capture the energy and emotion I am looking for. My technique is governed by the emotion I’m after. It makes for an inconsistent but personally gratifying body of work.

"One thing I learned and employ in almost every painting is that painting ideas are much like song ideas or poem ideas – they are not born fully mature. Songs need to be practiced. Poems need to be revised. Paintings need that same practice and revision. I treat my ideas as valid ideas looking for the right execution. That means staying open to possibility and retaining a child-like sensibility in my whole approach: What works? What doesn’t? What can I do to help the piece? What is it trying to say? And, above all, if it ain’t right, do it again. Feed the demon."

Specht has his own approach to painting nudes. "I find the classic 'model posing nude for an artist' approach to be way too sterile and rigid. I use my own handmade bamboo pens dipped in ink. The immediacy, spontaneity and relative unpredictability make this a perfect medium to capture everything about the female form that inspires and attracts me. I refuse to require the models to remain absolutely still. I usually have music playing, and I try to split things up between music I love and music the model loves. I encourage conversation. the more relaxed and comfortable the model is, the better the piece is going to be. The usual process of shading, lines, and colors used to render the female form has its beauty and place, but I strive for something more meaningful."

McAuliffe’s on the Square is located at 213 6th St., and the bar will be smoke-free for the evening. There is no cover charge, but you must be 21 or older to attend. The reception is open to the public. For more information on McAuliffe’s on the Square, call (262) 898-7371.

For samples of Specht's poetry, music and art, check his website.

The artist (celebrating his new glasses)