Kentler celebrates Richard Mock, by Brian Abate, photos by Teri Slotkin and Brian Abate

Richard Mock: The Cutting Edge is an exhibition at Kentler International Drawing Space in Red Hook. The show includes edition prints from Kentler Flatfiles along with a large installation of prints documented by artist and printmaker Dennis McNett of Wolfbat Studios. There are more than 300 linoleum block prints and most of them are making a statement, whether it’s satirical, ironic, humorous or just plain insightful.

“Richard sadly died 15 years ago but I think it’s important that we keep his work alive and I think we’re doing that with this exhibit,” said Florence Neal, a friend of Mock and director/co-founder of Kentler International Drawing Space.

Mock was originally from California and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1965 and then moved to New York in the early 1970s.

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“I think we were both drawn to Red Hook,” Neal said. “I like that it’s by the water and there’s a good mix of people and generations here. It’s a really special neighborhood.”

Though Mock enjoyed Red Hook, he also enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and making artwork as he did so. One highlight was working as the official portrait artist of the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid and working with athletes from all over the world.

“Richard would engage with anybody that wanted to have their portrait made,” Neal said. “So it was a way to really get to know somebody and he really liked that. He had this way of really simplifying by getting people’s essence in his portraits of them.”

Mock also appeared in op-ed pages of the New York Times from 1980-1996.

“Richard always spoke his mind whether it was on politics or social issues or art,” Neal said. “He sometimes lost jobs because of it but he never held back.”

Mock himself had spoken about his feelings towards the working class, saying “I like the warmth of the working class. When I drive in here [Detroit] in my old pickup truck, I feel like I’ve hit paradise.” He also spoke about his work as an artist activist, saying “It’s [in] the nature of my being to attack the enclosing optical structures which are out to suck the planet dry.”

Neal hopes that people who didn’t know about Mock’s work before have been introduced to him through this exhibition.

“Richard had a lot of people in Red Hook who cared about him and loved his work but a lot of people, especially younger people may not know about him,” Neal said.

This past Sunday there was a procession in Red Hook to celebrate Mock, as his exhibition at Kentler International Drawing Space ended. Many of those in attendance wore puppets made by McNett, paying tribute to Mock’s spirit. It was evident that a lot of people in Red Hook and beyond appreciate him.

Kentler International Drawing Space was founded in 1990 by Neal and Scott Pfaffman and is a nonprofit organization. Kentler’s mission is to bring drawings and works on paper by emerging and under-recognized local, national and international artists to the public, and to provide the opportunity to experiment, explore and expand the definition of art in society.

Artists from all over the world have had exhibitions at Kentler International Drawing Space and it has given them a platform to showcase their work and gain recognition.

“We also try to bring attention to artists who aren’t very well known,” Neal said. “Many curators selecting work from the Kentler Flatfiles have said to me ‘I’m embarrassed I don’t know these artists but this is really great work.’”

Neal is also proud that Kentler International Drawing Space offers K.I.D.S. Art Education programs including Drawing Together Family Art Programs which gives families and children an opportunity for hands-on exploration, critical dialogue, and empowerment through creative experiences.

“Richard also enjoyed teaching printmaking to kids and he taught in various venues in and out of New York City,” Neal said. “He was a mentor to so many people and he was very, very generous.”