360° Abstracts Series Appreciation

“Building a culture of collaboration” was considered as a community tagline when organizers developed the current Orcas Island Community Foundation which today distributes about a million dollars annually to the community. On our small island, residents donate entire parcels of land to the land bank to preserve undeveloped natural habitats, sponsor our artistic community and help fund other non-profits, as well as give back with small acts of kindness and inspiration. Extraordinary levels of collaboration in the arts are also evidenced on Orcas. An astonishing array of artists, many of whom gain their success off-island, pool and donate their time and talents locally simply for the joy in it. I am always in awe of the spirit of collaboration and giving that happens on Orcas Island.

I am thankful today to the musicians and composers who collaborated to make videos of my paintings happen. The end result is fun, modern, and in some ways extremely meditative. Thank you Jim Bredouw, Oliver Groenewald, Martin Lund, Stephen Fairweather, Adam Farish, Paris Wilson, Almost Classical Music, Mandy Troxel, Michael Grady, Aaron Zigman, Nikhil Koparkar.

The painting in the above video was made for Sara Cunningham Farish on Mother’s Day. If you look at the purple swath of paint that begins center left you can see the start of her face and figure there. Of course, in the spirit of the 360° Abstract Series, if you turn the painting another way, some say she becomes the mountains and the horizon.

Curious to hear what you see.

The painting below is Fire & Water accompanied by music from the talented islander, friend and philanthropist Jim Bredouw.