Highlights Newsletter January 2021

President's Palette

Ever heard of “synesthesia”? It’s a phenomenon in which there is a “cross over” of sensory messages in the brain when information meant to stimulate one of our senses, instead, stimulates several of them. Not long ago I read a fascinating article on this subject which has always intrigued both the scientist and the artist in me. For example, in Synesthesia the brain is triggered by seeing, hearing or thinking about music, letters or numbers and this event leads to actually visualizing them as specific colors, textures, locations and movements. How cool is that!

That article (1) and then another one (2) tell the story of Melissa McCracken who has synesthesia and is also an amazing abstract (expressionistic) artist. She says “basically, my brain is cross-wired. I experience the ‘wrong’ sensation to certain stimuli. Each letter and number is colored and the days of the year circle around my body as if they had a set point in space. But the most wonderful ‘brain malfunction’ of all is seeing the music I hear. It flows in a mixture of hues, textures and movements, shifting as if it were a vital and intentional element of each song.”(2) She paints her visions of music ranging from Rock (Hendricks) to Bach (Johann, et al). Viewing her dynamic acrylic and oil paintings is akin to being immersed in color, being a participant – not an observer - walking thru harmonious overhead waves of drapery, being surrounded by landscapes peaking out of the morning mist, swimming with schools of undersea delights, or being an actual flower crowded inside an overflowing bouquet. What is “normal" to her is otherworldly to us. It seems as if we are the ones who are missing out on something exciting. If you are interested in seeing her paintings and learning more about her work and synesthesia, listed below are both of the references plus two TED talks by her in which she discusses not only synesthesia but her unique perspective and the process of exploring individuality.

The majority of us don’t have synesthesia, but our senses may still “cross over” in many ways. Artists may paint the feelings evoked by music and thoughts, even numbers, which bring back memories and emotions. Last year all three Mid-Atlantic top awards went to artists who captured those flashes of recall and revelation. None of us will ever hear the year “2020” or “20 Seconds” again in our lives and not think of Covid-19 and that the simple act of hand washing could lead us to a hopeful future. “To Dance with My Father Again” evoked the music and the memories of childhood security but also of loss, while “Demoiselle” captured the song of youthful beauty and the awe of Spring renewal.

All of that segues into the fact that the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition is coming, regardless of the fact that it is January, cold out there, and there is still a pandemic. Contracts have been signed with Anne Abgott (again) and we are reserved in June at BlackRock (again). So I encourage everyone, myself included, to throw off the doldrums of winter and quarantine, put on some music of your choice and grab your brushes. I know that Sharon is looking forward to your submissions so please read her informative note which follows in this newsletter.

Stay safe and well,

Sherry

1. Americanlifestylemagazine.com, Issue 88, “The Art of Melissa McCracken – Shades of Sound” by Alexa Bricker

2. Mymodernmet.com/Melissa-McCracken-synthesia-paintings/ by Jenny Zhang, 2017

3. Two TED talks by the artist:
   “Painting a Song” by Melisa McCracken, Lafayette College, 2016
   “Synthesia and What It Has Taught Me” by Melissa McCracken, UNC, 2018

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