Austin Keller - Aquarelle by Sergio Assad

I. Divertimento
II. Valseana
III. Preludio e Toccatina

The word "Aquarelle" is French for watercolor, which inspired me to create a watercolor painting on canvas. The first movement starts with three notes, representing three water colors. The piece continues to develop off of the three notes, similarly as watercolors flow and bleed into one another, creating a colorful work of art.

The Aquarelle, the finale piece of my concert, Project Synesthesia, was a large inspiration for my freshman concert. Experimenting with the concept of Synesthesia (the experienced sensation and cross over between senses), I decided to create paintings that coincided with how my Synesthesia allows me to see music. I wanted to show people what the music I played would look like if it were to physically manifest in visual form; as I do myself experience Synesthesia, not only with music, but also people, days, letters, numbers and more, personally associating these things often with colors and textures. Some who have Synesthesia even experience smell or taste listening to music or when looking at art. Synesthesia can be experienced in many different ways, and has been scientifically proven to be genetic. This is why I believe the arts can be experienced in the same way. They don't have to conform in one area, but rather can be experienced together in many different forms, which was one of the things I was trying to convey through the concert, as well as give people the opportunity to see a glimpse and experience Synesthesia.