Images of Music

A Morning of Art and Music with Award Winning Artists

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

AAFSW cordially invites you on Tuesday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m. for a fascinating morning of art and music by two extraordinary artists: Susanne Eisinger and John Gardecki “the Chopin Man” who will enlighten us with a unique performance not to be missed. The event will take place in the Dean Acheson  auditorium of the Department of State.

Ms. Eisinger will be transporting the romantic music played by Mr. Gardecki to her canvas with vivid colors as she is inspired by her music.

JOHN GARDECKI, a pianist known as “the Chopin man,” plays the piano in the European romantic tradition.  The Dallas Times press described him at the Van Cliburn Competition as … “a Chopin pianist in the manner born, with Old World generosity of expression…”  

A second generation Polish American, John was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and studied piano privately with Dorothea Ortmann Seletzky, a magna cum laude graduate of Peabody. John also worked with Dorothea’s father, Prof. Otto Ortmann, director of the Peabody Conservatory (1928-41) studying harmony and music theory at which time, John won 7 “superior performance” ratings sponsored by the National Federation of Music for seven consecutive years, unsurpassed today. He performed with the Baltimore and Gettysburg Symphony Orchestras and at the Governor’s Mansion in Annapolis. In May 2014, he performed an all Chopin program at the State Department and last September he was invited by General Motors Corporation to perform at the Kennedy Center in celebration of Poland.  John is WIPAC’s CFO today.

Johan graduated in 1959 with a B.S. major in Physics, John went to UCLA for a Master’s Degree in Systematic Musicology and studied harpsichord with Malcolm Hamilton, winning competitions, and performing with the school’s chamber orchestra. He also managed UCLA’s first Electronic Music Studio as a graduate student. He was a telecommunication specialist and engineer with ITT in New York where he met his wife Chateau who encouraged him to go back to his music. In 1992, he received an M.A. in Arts Administration at Columbia University

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SUSANNE EISINGER, ASID, MFA, graduated in 1972 from the International Institute of Interior Design in Washington DC. For many years, she was a successful Interior Designer in her own firm. Her lifelong love of fine art led her to begin to explore a formal art education at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, VA. It was around this time that Ms. Eisinger visited an art exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. As she walked into the beautifully lighted room filled with the vivid colors from the Impressionist paintings surrounding her, she was startled by the sound of a full orchestra playing in her head. Ever since, the music she listens to brings the suggestion of which colors will dance on her canvas as she paints. Excited by this new vivid experience, she continued her education at Corcoran School of Fine Art and Montgomery College in Maryland. Susie received a Bachelor in Studio Art and a Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland and Vermont College of the Union Institute. She went on to win several University Awards and scholarships and exhibited in many juried shows, winning both first and second places. Her paintings adorn the walls of many serious art collectors, corporate board rooms and reception areas, and elegant private homes. A member of the WIPAC board, Susie resides in Potomac, Md. with her husband, Clayton, who is WIPAC’s current President.

All attendees without a State Department badge will need to submit  diplomatic ID, driver’s license number or passport number,  and date of birth to our AAFSW email, office@aafsw.org, no later than Friday, May 12, plus a check (made out to AAFSW) for $20.00 for members and $25.00 for non-members to defray catering costs to our headquarters at 4001 North Ninth Street,  Suite 214, Arlington, VA 22203.

Please come to the 23 Street entrance of the Department of State (between “Cand “D” Streets NW) by 10:20 a.m. We will have an informal coffee and tea social time, which begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by their presentation beginning at 11:00 a.m. and ending by noon.

What is “Images of Music™”?  It is a program presenting a pianist with a painter, in concert. On stage is a piano.  Next to it is a white large canvas, which sets the scene. Within the space of an hour, the canvas is blank no more!  As the pianist performs, the artist paints in bold abstract creations of her colorful interpretations of the music. Ms. Eisinger says that she sees colors, when she listens to classical music.  She hears music as she enters a museum room filled with artwork. On the other hand, John Gardecki is a pianist who interprets musical scores in terms of tonal colors.  Teaming up with Ms. Eisinger, they produce colors that come alive within the context of music and art: thus the “Images of Music™” was born! The program was launched at the Arts Club of Washington in 2009 with 100 WIPAC and Arts Club members in attendance.     It was an amazing collaboration, and the painting was incredibly beautiful.  Recently, The Arts Club invited these two award winning artists to present this extraordinary program a second time. Again, it was very well received and the photo above will give you a sense of how these two art forms were merged.  When asked about her medium, Susie opines that on stage she uses acrylics on canvas, no oils, so she can wear elegant clothes to paint.

 

Sheila Switzer

AAFSW Program Chair