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A Reflection on the paintings of the �COSMIC SERIES�
by Eugene J. Pentz
The theme of the "COSMIC SERIES" has a special meaning for me. I�ve always had a strong interest in astronomy. In my childhood, the summer sky often held my gaze for hours, and sometimes I felt I was part of those sparkling, magical heavens. This fascination led me to think deeply about the heavens above and the life forms that surround us here below on earth.
Now, more than three decades later, my perspective has changed, but my fascination has only increased through my
thirty five years of study and reflection on the object of my boyish interest. I know now that our earth is only a small
speck in a small galaxy that is one of millions, each containing hundreds of millions of suns, of which thousands, or perhaps millions, have a planetary system like our own. But imagination is still my chief tool for coming to grips with the universe, especially the belief that the origin and development of intelligent life on earth has been initiated and guided by a higher being from beyond our solar system. That is what inspired this series of paintings.
Whether one is prepared to take this leap of imagination or not, we can all agree that all the diversity of earthly life is
ultimately our common heritage and deserves our protection. The time will soon come when knowledge will guide us in this task, but until then we must draw on vision and imagination to preserve ourselves, our fellow creatures and this magnificent grain of sand on the shore of the cosmic ocean.
The time is fast approaching when we shall reach to other planetary systems, and even into deep space. Then we will seed other worlds with the unique life forms of earth, provided we have not let them die out here at home. That will be possible only if humanity unites in a peaceful and prosperous world community that would permit us to concentrate our energies on preservation, instead of destruction of ourselves and our fellow creatures.
So, next time you look up at the twinkling stars in the night sky, think of the vibrancy, the grace and the complexity of earth�s myriad life-forms, multiplied a million, million times in a universe which has no beginning or end.
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