[One of the paintings was a large canvas painted stark white. There was a small red dot precisely in the center of the canvas. That's it. A big white canvas with a small red dot in the center.]
About three years ago we were discussing this type of "art" at the factory where I work, and one of my coworkers suggested that we could create "sculptures" by taking the solidified plastic residue from around the nozzles of our injection molding machines and pretend they represent some abstract concept.
I now have two of these "sculptures" in my home and I tell visitors in my most serious voice that the one on the shelf by the front door is called "The Raping Bed" and the one hanging on the wall is called "American Imperialist".
I have witnessed only two types of reactions and I get them in about equal proportions:
1) "Yeah, I see what the artist intended. How deep!"
2) "What a piece of crap. I could root through the garbage and find better art."
ROFLMAO!!! You really should take them down to the snootiest gallery in your town and seriously ask for an appraisal. Tell them another appraiser said it was by a famous sculptor, but you can't remember who and wanted a second opinion. It would be a hoot.