Title
Subtext
Inka Essenhigh (American, born 1969)
Forest with Dappled Light, 2022
Enamel on canvas
40 x 50 inches
Collection of the Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine Museum purchase, Lynne Drexler Acquisition Fund, 2022.30
The reason I picked this song is because it has a very soothing melody and makes me calm. The music creates a peaceful background that matches the painting perfectly. I think the title is portrayed in this painting with the whimsical and fantasy-like world shown in the artwork. The artist created a magical place that feels like it belongs in a storybook, which is exactly what the music makes me feel like, too.
When I first saw the painting, it gave me feelings of calmness, mystery, and magic. It doesn't just look like a regular painting. It feels like a whole living world captured inside the frame. Looking at it makes me feel curious and quiet. The colors bring everything together with warm, bright, and darker colors. They show a mix of emotions, much like the song as well.
—Jace Bostrom
I think this song matches this artwork because I see a path leading into the unknown, wind everywhere you go, sending trees swaying into the beyond. You feel fear and warmth, which make you feel confused and wearied.
This place also reminds you of lost love as you walk down its gloomy and mysterious path. The lyrics match this feeling.
—Jeffrey Demeules
I chose the song “Futile Devices” because I felt like it went well with the artwork. The song has a very calm and soothing sound to it, and it gave me a peaceful feeling.
I feel like the sound and artwork go together because they give off quiet, relaxing vibe. When I listened to it, I could actually picture myself looking at that artwork.
When I was choosing the sound, I paid attention to how it made me feel. It also reminds me of old nostalgic memories from a childhood book.
This one felt like a good choice because it makes the feeling more special, and I think other people will get the same peaceful/nostalgic feeling when they see it and listen to the song.
—Salma Hassan
The song is happy and the art is happy. The art is green, and the song reminds me of green.
The song is happy because it’s smooth, fast-paced, and not too loud. The meaning of the song is a motivational one about people getting bullied and how to get out of that. The song also reminds people they are not alone.
When I look at the color green, I think of grass and nature, and those two things calm and relax me. The bright green in the front really stands out and feels happy and even more so against the dark green in the back.
The artwork also reminds me of Shrek because of the color green.
—Jaycob Jonas