Manly P. Hall "Think" 24x36" Poster | Contemporary Fine Art Print

$76.00

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Artist Statement

I've always been fascinated by the writings and lectures of the late mystic Brother Manly P. Hall. I'm well aware that other Freemasons are not exactly big fans of some of his earlier esoteric works but I have a feeling that they're just not exposed to Brother Hall's later lectures particularly those made during his twilight years. 

I'm a proud owner of a copy of his magnum opus The Secret Teachings of All Ages. An encyclopedic book published in 1928 when Manly was just 27 years old26 years before he became a Freemason. I've owned the book for over 10 years but I must admit that I barely read it. The contents are undeniably enthralling but I find it hard to resonate with some of the fantastic claims contained within. 

Where I found a deep connection with is his lectures made during the last years of his life. One talk in particular that stood out to me was his extemporaneous piece about TV programming and the effects of its careless consumption. It was a cautionary lecture delivered in such a light, entertaining, and timeless way. I believe that his message is even more relevant in today's age of Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc. We literally have a TV in our pockets with all sorts of programming available at the touch of the screen. I would have loved to hear Brother Hall's thoughts on social media! 

From what I gather, the reason why not a lot listen to MPH's lectures is the lo-fi quality of the live recordings. Others report that they can't stand listening to it due to a combination of Brother Hall's distinct voice and the steady white noise in the background. In an attempt to make it less "boring", I edited the recordings by adding atmospheric background music and some visuals. You may access this lecture via this YouTube link.

About the Artwork

The contemporary style and feel of the "Think" poster were inspired by the movie 1984 ("big brother" visuals) and the Andre the Giant Has a Posse campaign by street artist Sheperd Fairey.

The globe icon with a cursor and 7 stars. The eagle-eyed Freemasons might see the connection to the Entered Apprentice tracing board. The learned Brother knows that the moon and the seven stars do not represent any specific constellation but rather symbolizes the height of our ambition and the source of our virtues.

I replaced the moon with the global internet icon to allude that the pursuit of knowledge via the careful study of the 7 liberal arts can be had by using the internet wisely. 

"We see people that are interested in all kinds of crafts, they collect them, but they don’t create them. Something has to happen to change our way of life from admiring the creations of others to the development of creative capacity in ourselves." - Manly P. Hall

About the Medium

The Manly P. Hall Think 24"x36" poster is printed on Museum-quality thick and durable matte paper that is sourced from Japan. 

• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 5.57 oz/y² (189 g/m²)
• Giclée printing quality
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%