THE ROB MOORE PROJECT

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Rob taught me everything vital that I needed to know about painting.

I celebrated a lot of firsts working alongside Rob Moore in the studios at MassArt from 1989-91. His mentorship was an experience that has lingered with me and was reignited when I had a chance to teach in recent years. He cared so much. Rob was the person that first introduced me to what it might feel like to be an artist outside the bubble of art school. I felt pretty fancy when he brought us out for lunch with a visiting lecturer to the MFA restaurant; this was my first glimpse into a world of elevated conversation that might lead to a continued lifestyle focused on splendor and richly fascinating people.  I had confidence, but he kept me in check citing my "cavalier" attitude. Those that knew Rob will be able to hear this word spoken clearly in their heads with his charming southern drawl.

Later, when I had an exhibition at the Thompson gallery at the Longwood Building, Rob visited and declared "You are an artist." This statement may seem like a simple observation, but really it felt like he granted me a license to be my true self in art. I have not looked back since. 

- Paul Swenback

Rob was intimidating. You had to brace yourself during studio visits.. you knew he was going to be quick, precise and brutally honest.

I shared a studio space with the one person who challenged Rob relentlessly.. she was a petite, 85 year old landscape painter. Rob didn't know what to do with her and she pushed his buttons. He yelled "that's a John Marin painting!", and then they shared a good belly laugh. 

- Joy Feasley

When I was a junior and senior undergraduate at the Massachusetts College of Art, Rob Moore taught me Advanced Drawing and Painting. In every course that Rob taught everyone was enthralled with him. I remember he was captivating and motivated everyone. Everyone competed for his attention in class. Everyone tried to impress him. Sometimes that resulted in a seriously tough critique and in front of the entire class.

- David Lloyd Brown

Excerpt from “The Day Carl Andre Came To Class”

I became friends with Rob at the Workshop; before that I was a student of his at Mass College of Art. I remember the first day he walked into class. We were a group of sophomore graphic design majors, expecting to be taught immediately how to design great record album covers. After all, the course was named "Design".

"I'm going to teach you all about color," he announced. First things first. 

We protested. We figured we knew enough about color from our basic design course in freshman year. 

It was his first day in a new job and with perhaps more bravado than we realized he said, "But, I teach one hell of a color course.'  

And he did. Only it turned out to be not just about color. Sometimes he'd talk about drawing, or organize a trip to another city to see an exhibit, maybe start a heated class discussion about contemporary design, or about T.V., or about his favorite topic: movies. He'd arrive at class late and breathless and launch with enthusiasm into: "I saw the worst sculpture show yesterday.", or “‘You should all see ‘The Battle of Algiers.’”,  “This homework is terrible, you all. How can you think you know about color?". Then he'd take us to the drugstore for coffee. It was a class about more than color, more than design. It was class in an artist's perception of the world and in learning how to see. 

- Chris Mesarch, Rob’s former student and member of the Graphic Workshop

Excerpt from “Notes on Rob Moore”