RELEASE: Composer and pianist Catherine Marie Charlton to speak March 26 at the Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Collegeville, PA

Composer and pianist Catherine Marie Charlton will speak at the Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (TPUUF), Collegeville, PA, Sunday, March 26, at 10:30 a.m., on “Wyeth Walks: Spiritual Transformation through Nature.”

For the past several years, Charlton studied the art and creative philosophies of the Wyeth family. Having performed many times at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, she wanted to learn more about this remarkable family of artists.  She read books, visited galleries, spent time at the historic properties of NC Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth’s studios in Chadds Ford, PA, and talked with many curators and writers familiar with the Wyeth family and their art. She even went through handwritten unpublished scores of Anne Wyeth McCoy (Andrew Wyeth’s sister) and performed and recorded some of McCoy’s works.

Then, roughly two years ago, Charlton realized that truly uncovering the source of the Wyeths’ creative genius and energy meant, literally, walking in their footsteps. Andrew Wyeth was known to take nature walks every day. So, in addition to immersing herself in studying the Wyeths, she began to take nature walks of her own, seeking both insight into the creative process and inspiration for her music. What evolved were hundreds of walks, chronicled in blog postings and photographs. Last February, her blog posts appeared exclusively on the Brandywine Museum Instagram feed.

Steinway artist Charlton has recorded a dozen albums and is recognized as a stellar performer of improvisational music. She is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek, Delaware and speaks there regularly and throughout the region. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia chapter of the Recording Academy (“The Grammy’s”). More information about her life and music is available at http://www.catherinemariecharlton.com.

TPUUF (tpuuf.org), is celebrating its Fiftieth Anniversary as a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, which affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person and promotes spiritual, ethnic, racial and cultural diversity in its congregations and throughout the world. For more information about activities and opportunities at TPUUF, visit www.tpuuf.org.

Contact: Jerry Lazzaro