July 1, 2019
Story by Joe Vinduska
Courtesy photos submitted
The Shafer Gallery at SWAG合集 will host a reception and free concert of electro-acoustic improvisational music by award-winning composer and musician Dr. Paul Rudy at 6:30 p.m. on July 19. He will perform with longtime collaborator Jim Pisano.
Rudy is well known in the environmental and electronic music field. Winner of numerous awards including the Global Music Award, he combines influences from multiple musical genres. Rudy鈥檚 music has earned him nicknames such as 鈥淭he High Priest of Sound鈥 and 鈥淪age.鈥 In addition to composing instrumental and electronic art, he is a sought-after practitioner of sacred sound therapy, sound immersion, and sound healing. His music performance at the gallery will give attendees a unique awareness-expanding experience.
The exhibit of Rudy鈥檚 photographs on display in the Shafer Gallery feature images based upon chance or anomalous experiences. During the creation of these photos, Rudy鈥檚 camera lens was exposed to natural moisture that was in the air, as well as the artist鈥檚 breath. The end result evolved into a collection of surreal, orb-inspired works of art.
鈥淢y breath found its way into the photographs, creating cosmic designs that look more like supernovas and distant galaxies than the moisture from my body,鈥 Rudy said of the organic nature of his creations. 鈥淓xplained or unexplained, these images show, to me at least, the magic and mystery of life.鈥
Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes said Rudy鈥檚 photography invokes infinite speculation and awe.
鈥淭he photographs of Paul Rudy are like a gateway into the transcendence that lays right in front of our eyes,鈥 he said. 鈥淩udy鈥檚 photos take me to a beautiful cosmic place where scale and time have no meaning. His work challenges us to see an entirely obvious but rarely contemplated reality.鈥
Barnes said Rudy鈥檚 musical and physical art complement each other organically.
鈥淲hat immediately struck me about the photography and music of Rudy is that they are in total sync with each other,鈥 he said. 鈥淩udy鈥檚 photographs could be made into album covers for his musical compositions. He has a focused and consistent vison which is unique and identifiable even as it crosses from expressive medium to medium. This is the hallmark of a truly visionary artist.鈥
The exhibit will run through August 1. Admission is always free. For more information on Rudy go to paulrudy.net. The Shafer Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the summer with normal hours resuming (10 a.m. 鈥 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday) on July 29. For more information, contact Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes at (620) 792-9342 or barnesd@bartonccc.edu.