Brian H. Peterson

Pennsylvania Impressionism opens with an introduction explaining the origins of painting in the area, followed by a somewhat pensive and personal mediation on art, both by Brian H Peterson; followed by two further discussions of art in Pennsylvania by Sylvia Yount and William H Gerdts respectively. Then comes the main colour plates section along with the artists' biographies. This is followed with entries for other associated artists and comprises brief descriptions accompanied by a representative thumb-nail illustration of each artist's work. The book concludes with two bibliographies and other lists.

This is a beautifully illustrated volume, the introductory chapters are illustrated, the colour plates section amounts to nearly two hundred pages, and along with the concluding section the full colour illustrations number three hundred and sixty nine. In the colour plates section they are arranged one and sometime two to a page and the standard is good, often revealing the quality and texture of the paint. However it should be noted that even the full page illustrations in fact rarely occupy more than half of the total page area, leaving the image surrounded by a lot of white space.

This is an attractively laid out and beautifully illustrated book, and the paintings themselves are absolutely superb.… (más)

Brian Peterson opens his book of essays and photographs with an open letter to his readers. He acknowledges the choices that readers have – the endless smorgasbord of literature – and thanks them for spending time with him. He lets his readers know that his book is different – it is a book about contradictions: beauty and violence, love and grief. What Peterson does right up front is tell his readers that this book will be a personal reflection of his life. And it is.

The Blossoming of the World is a collection of Peterson’s photographs, essays and journal entries. The photographs are often in stark black and white or sepia toned. Some of them are startling, some are profound and spiritual, others are beautiful, all are thought-provoking. The photography in this book was wonderful. Some of Peterson’s most moving photographs are those in the Earth and Sky collection, and the Forest Light collection. They capture the essence of nature and the contrast between light and dark which I find so soothing. I also appreciated his photographs of people which somehow allow the viewer to glimpse the personality of the subject.

Whether the captured photons come from a flower, a mountain, a city street, or an old woman’s smile, a photograph takes that very evanescence and examines it, knows it, the way lovers come to know every sacred contour and curve of their beloved’s body. - from The Blossoming of the World, page 11 -

Brian Peterson’s essays and journal entries are incredibly personal – almost uncomfortably so. Peterson is living with Parkinson’s Disease – an illness which robs the individual gradually of movement – and his struggles with the diagnosis are a common theme in Peterson’s essays. He also talks a lot about faith, God, love, and despair. In the early pages of his book, Peterson seems to be questioning God and his purpose.

Looking up at all those stars, the word “God” seemed as useful as a lead weight on a ballet dancer. In the vastness of the galaxies and atoms, where is this God who pulls the strings and counts the hairs on our heads? A God who does all that has to be somewhere. But where? – from The Blossoming of the World, page 28 -

When I hear someone spouting cliches about God to avoid another person’s suffering, I know I’m among Christians. “Everything happens for a reason” is another way of saying “I do not, cannot, and will not feel your pain.” – from The Blossoming of the World, page 39 -

But in the latter parts of the book, Peterson’s essays indicate he is more sure of his faith, and he begins to sermonize a bit.

I have the good fortune to be the conscious witness of my own gradual destruction. Each crumbling minaret, each tower that turns to dust, is a crucifixion. Every part of me that’s lost is a call – not to run away, but to be attentive, to listen – to die so something new can be born – to live out, in the realest, most unrelentingly honest, most terrifyingly creative way imaginable, the truth of the Gospels. Christ on the cross. – from The Blossoming of the World, page 99 -

The Blossoming of the World is an interesting book on many levels. It is painfully honest, and at times uncomfortable. When Peterson veers into his journal entries, I felt like a voyeur into his private life. Some of the religious elements in the book grew wearisome for me. I think of myself as a spiritual person, but at times Peterson became so esoteric that he lost me. It is hard to be critical of Peterson’s writings because it makes me feel as though I am criticizing someone’s diary…and yet, I think that both the power and the weakness of the book lie in the personal nature of the writings.

Reflective, personal, and at times profound, The Blossoming of the World gets a mixed review from me. Readers who appreciate art (especially exceptional photography) will love Peterson’s selected photographs. Those who are traditionally religious will probably enjoy many of Peterson’s essays which delve deeply into Christian belief. This is a philosophical book which gives insight into one man’s journey through illness, and his quest for meaning in the life he is living.… (más)