Poems without words

Exhibition April 6 − August 10, 2019
“Painting is quiet poetry, and poetry is painting that says,” these words were written by a Greek biographer and essayist Plutarch nearly two thousand years ago. By definition, all the arts are sensual, that is, they are pleasing to one or more of the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. While verses can be read or uttered, pictures are available through our vision.

The leading image at the exhibition is a wonderful impressionist work entitled "Pergola in Samarkand", written in Santa Barbara in 1921 by Colin Campbell Cooper (1856-1937).

Granville Redmond's "California Landscape" (1871–1935) shows several species of wildflowers accompanied by majestic oak trees.

The painting "Banning", painted by Anna Hills (1882-1930) in 1916, shows a group of bright flowering trees against a background of snowy mountain slopes.

If "Ara and Kakadu," written by Jesse Arms Botke (1883–1971) in 1926, were a poem, they would have a harsh tone, underlined by the loud discourse between the ara and one of the cockatoo.

"Poems without words"demonstrate a colorful rhythm provided by the bright colors of lavender blue wisteria, complemented by rich gold leaf.