Rick Smith, a Long Islander since childhood, is an alumni of the
State University of New York at Farmingdale and Old Westbury, graduating
from their advertising art and visual arts programs in 1991 and 1996,
respectively. His work, which includes paintings, mixed media sculpture,
installation work, photo etchings, slide lectures and poetry, deals
directly with the Abduction Phenomena and extraterrestrial intervention.
As an artist, Rick redeems the abduction phenomena away from falsehood,
delivering unto the viewer a message of catalystic intuition with
his first series, An
Experiment In Humanity. Ranging in areas of politics, religion,
domestic violence and sociological evolution, the far reaching implications
set forth by the artist's work become startling and hard hitting.
As a lecturer, he takes the audience on an educational journey through
his work – the artist who has been called upon to be a 'teacher
of the masses' – exploring all things extraterrestrial and discussing
the metaphoric, sociological and historical symbolisms therein and
how they relate to the human condition.
As a poet, Rick goes one step further, exposing his own intimate,
enlightening and horrific experiences, scenarios and confrontations
for the first time with Legions
Of Light / Armies Of Darkness, an autobiographical account about
extraterrestrial bloodlines, the age old struggle for civil rights
and the raw passion of true love found amidst the backdrop of a Hybrid
War. This being his first book, it represents an extension and parallel
inspiration from his work with An
Experiment In Humanity.
Since 1991, Rick has allowed himself to be a conduit of 'downloaded'
extraterrestrial information, turning such conversations with what
he refers to as 'Mother' into the golden thread of visual communication
that emanates throughout his work as an artist, poet and lecturer.
The artist's ongoing exploration into this realm results in an evolving
process requiring subject and medium to become symbolically and metaphorically
enmeshed with one another. Though he began working in acrylics, this
exploration has led him down the path of a mixed-media artist.
As a teacher of the masses, Rick knows his calling in life as one
that relentlessly drives him to be a voice for those that have no
voice: the abductee, contactee, experiencer, wanderer, extraterrestrial
walk-in, Ufological researcher – all of which serve as a poetic
metaphor and social message against certain non-indigenous influences
that have consistently fueled the fires of bigotry and hypocrisy targeting
human/civilian rights from all walks of life.
Lastly, the most important aspect of the artist's focus is the destiny
of our children for they represent the wave of our future – Earth's
future. As 'Mother's' passionate messenger to the people of Earth,
he feels this to be tantamount to everything he represents while delivering
a challenging ultimatum with a message of hope for our humanity.
In the artist's words: "I know this to be true: the teachers
of the masses — artists of the 21st Century — will never
allow themselves to be forced to go quietly into the night… never!"
Rick Smith has been working in the field of commercial
art since 1996 and is currently considering returning to school for
a Masters degree or running for President. Due to the personal stake
he has in the Abduction Phenomena and his interest in the historical
long-term ramifications of extraterrestrial intervention, his decision
could go either way. He resides in Merrick, New York, in the United
States. You can contact
him here.