Newsletter: San Luis Valley-
A Q&A with Jim Klein
Q: You often paint musical instruments. Why?
A: They’re another way to communicate something that can’t be said, only experienced.
Q: That “thing that can’t be said” – it must be important, right?
A: Yes, very important. But I can’t articulate it.
Q: Let’s talk about “San Luis Valley.” What’s the story behind it?
A: It’s based on my experiences in the San Luis Valley in 1967 and ’68, as a freshman wrestler at Adams State College. The SLV is a unique, enclosed, high-altitude area completely surrounded by mountains. It’s desolate yet beautiful, with a strong sense of isolation. There’s nowhere else like it. It has extreme weather – very, very cold winters. It was a formative experience. The washes in the painting evoke the valley’s feel – sometimes very windy, with the sand dunes, dry, arid climate, all within a beautiful setting. The area’s culture is distinct, influenced by missionaries in the 1500s. This piece could represent a guitar or cello, hinting at the Spanish influence, the missionaries, and Colorado’s oldest church. The guitar symbolizes telling the story which cannot be put into words. The “Guitar Trio” began as a wash, then the guitar was added with a palette knife. It evolved into a composition for classical guitar, violin, and cello. The feeling of the art and the music came together. There are many stories here, both historical and personal.
