Some people are multi-talented because their able to thrive within different mediums. Those people are incredibly gifted.

The Sarah Siberman art gallery hosted the opening reception of Artist, Musician, and Professor Art Rosenbaum’s exhibit on Tues Sep. 8. Rosenbaum is one of those exceptional people.

Art Rosenbaum’s artwork is an assortment of lively, eye-catching oil paintings and drawings that convey many cultural messages.

He’s well recognized for his large-scale symbolic murals that illustrate real life characters and events. Art Rosenbaum’s display featured a variety of portraits, and self-portraits that he executed with skilled methods and vibrant color contrasts.

He found inspiration through his many encounters with folk artists. Rosenbaum is especially interested in the traditional songs that have been passed down through generations. He focuses on portraying scenes that display people singing and dancing in their own environment.

Rosenbaum was stimulated through the highly electrifying sounds of blues and fiddle music. His appreciation for old songs and vernacular culture emanates through his characters. Leaving no blank space on the canvas, Rosenbaum’s rich pigments and careful brushwork techniques pay tribute to the subjects who inspired him.

Rosenbaum’s quest to discover music, other than what was commercially available to the public, attracted a lot of gregarious people who shared their songs with him, and also taught him how to play the banjo and fiddle.

His experiences as a child growing up in the south have significantly influenced his own musical pursuits. Once he got to college, Rosenbaum met other folk musicians who shared similar interests.

In 2008 his album, Art of Field Recording: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music won a Grammy award for “Best Historical Album.”

The recording consisted of a series of live folk music, and genuine conversation with common folk. Rosenbaum asked them questions regarding the history of their songs.

The innovative documentary also showcased Rosenbaum’s own paintings and sketches as well as casual snapshots of the musicians who performed not for profit, but for their own gratification.

Art Rosenbaum is also a well acclaimed professor in Fine Arts at the Lamar Dodd, University of Georgia. His albums are academically beneficial since its content stretches over a span of fifty years.

Rosenbaum’s noteworthy contributions to the Fine Arts and Folk music still influence young aspiring artists and musicians every day.