Saturday, July 28, 2018

American Visionary Art Museum: Making Music

untitled and undated painting by Jacob Cabnet
When you exit the elevator on the second floor of the Jim Rouse Visionary Center building at AVAM, you are greeted by a trio of paintings by Jacob Cabnet and a collection of little sculptures creating an orchestra by James Chandler.  The paintings depict groups of people dancing and having a good time.  The little orchestra not only is delightful in it's details, the members are intended to represent actual people in what turns out to be a star studded extravaganza including dead Presidents and fictitious aliens!  It's kind of a carefully conceived puzzle of who's who once the conceit becomes apparent.  Perhaps a bit dated and esoteric for children, it will nonetheless bring out the child in any curious adult.


"Symphony in Wood:  Conducted by Arthur Fiedler, with Teddy Roosevelt
on Violin, Bill Clinton on Saxophone, and guest pianist John Williams"
1977-1999 by James Chandler
That's a title worthy of the work!  And it sets the viewer up to not only identify the featured players, but wonder about the identities of everyone else in the orchestra!

Teddy Roosevelt on the right in the front.

Bill Clinton center with his saxophone

John Williams mid flourish of some silent arpeggio.

Of course, the indelible Arthur Fiedler who invented the modern "pops" orchestra in Boston

We do not know who the guest vocalist is.  Any guesses?

Don't you know that I sincerely hope that is Spock playing the violin to the left of Abraham Lincoln!

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