PAINTINGS + PIANO
A confluence of visual art and music
PAINTINGS + PIANO will feature new work by three artists: Denise Pugash, Gregg Simpson and music by Nicole Thomas Zyczynski.
Join us for a live piano performances, Wednesday- Sundays, March 19-30th, 1-3pm.
To listen to Nicoles music that accompany the paintings, please click HERE
Please come to our artists pARTy and meet the artists in person! Saturday March 15th from 6 to 8 pm. Free for all.
Artist Statement – Nicole Thomas Zyczynski: I have always considered music to be my first language. Music, like visual art, bridges the gap in verbal communication. Music heightens emotional perception. My previous compositions were inspired by people and places. Denise’s paintings were a new inspiration for me. Each painting and its colours triggered in me a unique melody, motifs, harmonies, rhythmic pulse and mood. For some of the paintings, the colours spoke to me first. In others it was the subject or atmosphere. I like to call these pieces of music “improvisations” as they were composed without hesitation or calculation - these pieces were immediate in their execution and came from a place deep within me. It has been a true delight to see how well the two parallel art forms marry and serve as inspiration to each other. Music and painting share a palette in common - the painter her colours and brushes, and the musician her melodies and harmonies. They intertwine to lend depth and meaning to the story. We invite you to immerse yourselves in the synergy of paintings and piano.
Artist Statement - Denise Pugash: I divide my time between Bowen Island, and a small town in the south of France. Here on Bowen, I love being immersed in nature: mountains, forests, and the ocean. I find endless inspiration in observing how familiar landscapes are transformed by light and atmosphere. I try to capture the fleeting moments that speak to me, and are precious since they are so transient. Rain forest landscapes contrast with the intense light and dry terrain of the south of France. In Provence, my favorite times of day are early morning and late afternoon, when the light is gentle and golden, and the shadows are slanted and luminous. The quality of the light intensifies colors and makes every object glow, from bowls of fruit to landscapes. I was amazed when Nicole played her beautiful compositions, which were inspired by my paintings. Her interpretations create moods, and add depth and expression to the images. Like a painter, she uses a palette of piano sounds to create a soundscape. I also see colour in music. Notes, chords, and key signatures bring to mind specific colours and moods that enhance and guide my art. Nicole’s composition “Little Lamb” created a picture in my mind, which inspired me to compose the corresponding painting.
