Roland Petersen's ‘Picnic Paintings' are tableaux of conducted illumination, which conjures the corpulent magnetism of ripe raw food in paint.  These are his finest, said by many.  And in the witnessing of a time past, the experience is dense and textured as if to draw one into the encounter of not only a painting but also a picnic. He creates geometric designs of abstracted realism executed with precise gestures.  I believe these times in Roland's life were held preciously in the moment of the occurrence.  This showing of Mr. Petersen's paintings is truly "A Natural Order" symbolizing the art of living.

--Melissa Adams

(*Images, from top to bottom:  Roland Petersen, Shade Picnic, 1967, oil on canvas, 48.25 x 68.25", Art (c) Roland Petersen, Photography by PHOCASSO/J.W.White.  Roland Petersen, August Afternoon, 1967, oil and rhoplex on canvas, 60 x 68", Art (c) Roland Petersen,) Photography by PHOCASSO/J.W.White.