If not all of his works are equally effective, he does display an aesthetic and a point of view that, as his skill and insight develop, may give an edge to his future art. Henry Hopper is 18 and this is his first show. That may refer to the hazard of getting caught in the tree branches – or it may be a warning to us to recycle and to respect nature. Only up close does one see the words “Proceed with Caution” written on the cardboard. The tree was once alive, the worn-out stand is wood that was once a tree, even plastic is made from the wood of trees. It’s also a comment on what ends up being regarded as junk. On the surface, it’s more junk recycled into art. One mixed-media piece with allure, however, is “Tree.” A very small tree, its branches almost bare except for some dried leaves, lies on its side, thrust into a “planter” made from an old wooden stand, covered with black plastic and cardboard. But a work like Hopper’s “Blue,” a large blue plastic object (probably a doghouse roof) with part of an old DVD player attached to it, does not rise above being a nice-looking (due to the blue color) wall hanging that still looks like its components. Found object art constructions can be highly imaginative. Hopper’s mixed-media pieces seem less successful, as they use found objects to create three-dimensional abstracts that beg for meaning, but often elude it.

It’s more fun to just accept the canvases for what they are. And all this interpretation might be irrelevant. “Pamela,” all whorls of gray and black, might be someone with a stormy but indefinable personality. If this is the case, then “Sarah,” consisting of three black and aqua shapes, represents a mood (bright but with sad undertones), and perceptions of movement (one shape might be a lower torso with two legs walking). But with a name like “Dennis” (the menace?) it can also be Hopper’s impression of someone’s personality. One viewer said, “It looks like a New York street at night to me.” Indeed, one could interpret the paint splashes as explosions, fire escapes, fires, or blood from street violence. Several paintings bear names of people: “Chris,” “Sarah,” “Dennis.” “Dennis,” a turbulent mix of red, black, and blue swatches of spray paint, attracted much attention at the show’s opening.

Like the classic psychological Rorschach test, the paintings lend themselves to different interpretations by each person. Standing back, one can see shapes, moods, and possible scenarios. At first glance, they might seem to be just splatter and drip, as Jackson Pollock’s paintings seemed to be. They use a limited color palette: red, black, gray, white, aqua, and some pink and light green. Most of the works are paintings, done with acrylic and spray paint on canvas. The concept, says Hopper, is to create “non-linear, ‘emotional landscapes’ ” inspired by his relationships with people, although very few of them represent people – or any concrete shape, for that matter. Henry Hopper, son of actor/artist Dennis Hopper, whose paintings and mixed-media collages are on display at Frank Pictures Gallery, calls his show “People Are Other People.” The title is from a quote by Oscar Wilde. Abstract art creates and/or captures a mood, is open to interpretation, can be decorative or can contain one or more meanings. It’s admittedly not for those who insist on form as content. The abstract, in art, almost defies criticism. Reviewed by Lynne Bronstein, Mirror Staff Writer Henry Hopper and Laurie Frank at the Opening Reception

Henry hopper