Every so often, an inspiring book comes along that helps the reader reform their approach to art and life, and A TREASURY OF ART––UNDISCOVERED WORKS 1966-2022 is one of those. The author, Rick Schmidt, was graced by ACTOR VIN DIESEL reading and utilizing his earlier “Feature filmmaking at Used-Car Prices” Viking Penguin how-to, so the superstar could kick-start his career. WRITER/DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH also made his breakthrough feature, CLERKS, with Schmidt’s book. So, somehow, the contents of Schmidt’s tomes seem to generate positive energy to the reader, to help them get busy on their original works (with occasional success and $ to follow!). TREASURY isn’t exactly the same kind of manual that these filmmakers read, but it is chock full of interesting, provocative, and professional presentations, giving encouragement with it’s art entries and commentary; posters, drawings, sculptures, conceptual art and garage sale finds, all mixed together, shouting to the reader, “GET BUSY BUILDING OR PAINTING SOMETHING!"
After all, time is always running out for artists (all of us…), and here, page after page, we get examples of people creating their visions, making something real that could have remained unrealized. For sure, Schmidt and his wife, Julie Schachter (a noted pinhole photographer), have assembled a strange and diverse collection from their friends and associates, plus odd discoveries. And surprisingly, it is a pleasure to behold. The real point is, while not everything is great art, the overall collection represents dreams that came true, and if the reader gets anything out of thumbing through this unusual survey, it's that it is time to drop everything and get busy on their art, whatever it may be. The artists included here have given up on making excuses.