Brad Caplis, a native of Michigan uses remembrances of his childhood as a source of inspiration for his paintings. Growing up in rural Michigan, he was always in or around the woods. There he dreamt of spotting flying saucers in a patch of sky just above the pine trees, or stumbling upon a clearing to witness some kind of bucolic supernatural ceremony. He never did witness such events however, but was always on the lookout for the extraordinary in nature.
As his paintings continued, images began to surface that best represented these more mystical yearnings. Before adolescence He was often sick with flu and high fevers which invariably let to hallucinations, some of which were terrifying and quite bizarre. There were times when he would lash out at them or run around the house in hopes of escaping. His mother would let him stay in his brother's room during these episodes. It seemed to make him feel safer.
In his brother's room, along with all the cool stuff an older brother has, was a vintage 1940's radio. As he lay in bed in a delusional state, he would watch the radio rise up or grow and become speaking. It's voice (he assumed it was God's voice) would announce all kinds of catastrophe and miracles alike. Sometimes a crackling panicked voice like that of an on the street reporter and other times a booming great almighty voice from above, the radio belted out cryptic messages and spectacular occurrences. I was entirely hypnotic and at the time, he believed to be the most important discovery of his young life.
Age, maturity and better health eased the delusions and his education at the University of Virginia transformed many of these images of the past into whimsical and playful paintings of landscapes, seascapes and timeless memorabilia.
This current exhibit pays close attention to tranquil times, vaction memories and remembrances that we all share while relaxing away from home and dreaming out a window with a view.
Brad Caplis currently resides with his wife in the Pacific Northwest where he continues to pursue his painting.
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