Roger Goodspeed, Lowden Gallery, November 1 - December 31

“I have always been fascinated by the relationship between musical sounds and light. Even as a child, when I would shut my eyes and listen to music, I would visualize colors and dancing shapes.

In 1940 Walt Disney released the film "Fantasia" and when I saw it, I was amazed that others saw similar colors and patterns in music. The movie begins with an orchestra playing beautiful classical music while bright designs and geometric shapes dance across the screen. Wonderful! I appreciated most the more abstract elements in the film, however Walt also included hippo ballet dancers and Mickey as the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" later in the film. I was delighted!

So now when I go to a concert, I shut my eyes and let the designs and colors flow. Bass notes for me, become large shapes with dark cool colors. Treble notes seem smaller, sharp, and jagged with bright warm colors. Since my chosen medium is painting, I am limited to only two dimensions and music is four dimensions, including time. Sometimes I like to doodle while I listen, then try to overcome the limits of working two dimensionally by using shapes, colors, and rhythms in my design. Challenging and difficult and quite rewarding when I succeed.

Next time you have a chance to attend a concert, shut your eyes, and imagine with me and Walt what things you might see and where in space the music takes you.

I have no particular personal style but feel style and media should vary with the subject matter. Most of my work is done with acrylic or watercolor paints. However, I am open to exploring other media as well. I paint in a semi-realistic manner but admire those abstract artists who can evoke a response from something unrecognizable."

I feel the artist has two important objectives to meet in each painting. One is to convey a message or meaning and the other is to open the eyes of the viewer to the beauty that surrounds him, no matter where he is. The artist should hope to renew the joy and curiosity felt by small children, which we seem to lose as we become jaded adults."

Open your eyes to the wonder of Eden."