Area November 7, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 21 Contemporary expressionist’s work now on exhibit The Saddle River Valley Cultural Center will host an exhibit of the work of contemporary expressionist Michael Raucheisen on Sunday, Nov. 11. The public is invited to attend the 3 p.m. reception, which will feature Raucheisen and his visually engaging pieces. A Baltimore born singer, songwriter, and artist, Raucheisen now lives near Boston. Raucheisen’s song, “In Love with a Friend” was part of the Grammy-nominated Deep Dish album, “George Is On.” Surrounded by art and the musical operatic world of his grandfather, a respected German pianist, Raucheisen’s artistic development began at a very early age. His painting and creative growth have also been influenced by the works of Peter Max, James Rizzi, Jackson Pollock, Picasso, Miro, and Van Gogh. In 2006, he began painting his flower series, partly to express his celebration of the blessings of marriage, family, and friends, and as a thank you to everyone special in his life. Stepping out to take a new and unfamiliar direction, Raucheisen has found an identifying style that is uniquely his own. Ignoring the traditional approach, his paintings move with simpler lines and a contemporary color palette. Today, his paintings may be found in private and corporate collections around the world. Many years ago, when Raucheisen was traveling was traveling home from his honeymoon, he and his wife were in a near fatal accident, but emerged uninjured. That night, he began dreaming of a painting hanging over his bed. This painting would figure in his dreams every night for several weeks. What began as “test” paintings became a series that took on a life of their own. In early December 2008, nearly two years after the first “dream” painting was created, he was inspired to create another project that would be a collective of art and history, and make this unexplainable dream a reality. The year-long “I Had a Dream: A 365 Day Retrospective” project entailed producing one painting every day during 2009. On the back of each painting, a diary or recap of the day’s events was inscribed, creating a daily time capsule within each piece. The project, completed on May 8, 2010, includes 365 paintings with the daily recaps, which were assembled to present a tangible retrospective of art and history for 2009. The Saddle River Valley Cultural Center, located at 305 West Saddle River Road in Upper Saddle River, was formed in 1982 to present cultural events and to increase awareness and appreciation of the fine arts. At the same time, the organization is preserving the old Saddle River Methodist Church, built in 1842, as a historical site. For additional information about this art exhibit, call (201) 825-3366. Pictured are examples of Michael Raucheisen’s paintings.