Cultural Center of Cape Cod to Host Exhibit and Event Featuring Artist/Musician Lennie Peterson
South Yarmouth--The Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth announces “Synesthesia: The Music Inspired Portraits and Mindscapes of Lennie Peterson,” an exhibit by the celebrated artist and Entrain trombonist, and an interactive art and music presentation. The exhibition will run from June 23-July 17, with an open house on Saturday, June 26, from 2-5pm. Both the exhibit and open house are free and open to the public. Related to the exhibition, Peterson will give an Interactive Presentation on Saturday, June 26, from 7-9 pm. During the presentation, Peterson will create a large composer portrait, accompanied by Wayne Naus on piano. At the end of his presentation, Peterson will join Mr. Naus to perform a closing musical selection. Admission is $20. To register, visit www.cultural-center.org or call 508-394-7100. The Cultural Center is located at 307 Old Main Street in South Yarmouth.
Lennie Peterson has traveled the world several times dedicating his life to visual art, music, and arts education in a wide variety of capacities.
His award-winning artwork and illustrations have been featured in solo and group exhibitions in galleries throughout the United States and his art has been purchased throughout the world including Japan, Spain, Argentina, Wales, and, most recently, Kuwait.
Peterson is also a former professor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and currently a professional freelance musician performing over 300 dates a year, including trombonist with the World Music band, Entrain.
He has toured extensively appearing with several renowned symphony orchestras in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls.
The Cultural Center of Cape Cod exhibition is dedicated to Peterson’s father who recently passed away at the age of 93.
“My father was a musician and my mother was an artist so this path I’ve chosen is obviously no accident,” Peterson says. “And my composer portraits especially combine the two worlds for me. They allow me to pay tribute to the musical genius who shaped the world around us. My dad, a lover of classical music, was fascinated with the idea of me making music visual.”
“Lennie’s passion for merging visual art and music is what the Cultural Center of Cape Cod is all about. Our motto, ‘All the Arts for All of Us,’ absolutely sums up Lennie’s blend of music, visual art, entertainment, and education,” explains Robert Nash, Executive Director at the Cultural Center. “It’s a perfect match, which is why we decided to host his four-week exhibition.”
“I’ve always been fascinated with the visuals that come about for me as a result of listening to music,” Peterson says. “And the Cultural Center is the perfect showcase for that inspiration.”
Much of his visual art is conceived as a result of what he terms “the seeing of music.” Peterson has a neurological condition called Synesthesia, a phenomenon in which two or more of the five senses are attached. A person with synesthesia (known as a “Synesthete”), for instance, might see colors associated with letters and numbers or hear sounds in response to smell. Just about any combination of the senses is possible and there are some people who possess synesthesia involving three or even more senses. In his case, he “sees” music and translates the shapes, colors, and images of that music onto his canvas or paper.
“It’s only in the last ten years, through a fellow professor at Berklee, that I learned this was even considered a ‘condition.’” Peterson says, “It’s only recently that I’ve started to reflect on the origins of my art related to my synesthesia.”
Synesthesia is a phenomenon dating back to Greek antiquity, when it was commonly referred to as “Synesthesia in Art.” In 1812, a German physician, Sachs, was the first to mention synesthesia as a medical condition. Since then, other studies have been conducted in educational and medical areas, both having remarkable results.
“I’m fortunate to have the outlets of both music and visual art to communicate this experience,” Peterson says.
The Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s exhibition will feature Lennie Peterson’s large 6’ x 3’ composer portraits along with many other drawings, “Mindscapes,” abstract paintings, and videos.
Also on exhibit in the Center’s other galleries: “Gallery of Rogues,” a collection of oil paintings by Alice Mongeau, in the Saben Board Room Gallery from June 23-July 17; “All at Sea” paintings by Susan Carey in the Blue Room Gallery from June 23-July 17; “Reel Art,” a national juried exhibition of film work in the Vault from June 9-July 17; and Caroline Brodt’s “Cuba,” photography, in the Education Wing from June 2-July 3. All are welcome.
The Cultural Center galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5pm. The Center is supported in part by the Yarmouth Tourism Fund.