The Act of Making Images
Tiit Raid did not merely paint; he "made images." This distinction, a phrase he used to describe a career spanning over seven decades, began as a childhood impulse in the fifth grade. By the time he reached the University of Minnesota to earn both his BFA and MFA, the impulse had solidified into a disciplined practice of observation. His life was defined by the steady application of oil to canvas, a process that continued through decades of academic instruction and private creation.
The work is rooted in a specific way of seeing. He found a philosophy in the words of Winslow Homer, specifically the idea that the sun rises and sets without needing human notice, yet the life chosen by the artist provides full hours of enjoyment. This sense of presence is felt in the way he approached the canvas—not as a destination, but as a continuous progression of visual inquiry.
Academic Influence and Mentorship
From 1967 to 2002, the halls of UW-Eau Claire served as the backdrop for his professional life. As an art professor and oil painting instructor, Raid shaped the technical foundations of many students. His influence extended beyond the classroom, moving into the community through commissions and permanent installations. His presence in the region is marked by several specific locations:
- The Jamf permanent collection
- Mayo permanent collection
- The McIntyre Library at UWEC
His teaching style emphasized the process over the final product. He focused on the dialogue between the artist and the medium, a method that left a lasting impression on those he mentored. Even long after his formal retirement, the connections formed in his oil painting classes remained, as former students continued to reflect on the conversations held during those early lessons.
A Final Retrospective
The final chapter of his career was marked by a look backward. A retrospective at the James W. Hansen Gallery at the Pablo Center brought together approximately 50 paintings and drawings, spanning the years from 1956 to 2022. This collection offered a rare view of his evolution, showing the trajectory of a man who had been making images since his youth. The exhibition served as a comprehensive record of a life lived through the lens of visual expression, concluding a long tenure in the Eau Claire art community.
