From the Depths of My Soul ends Sept 28

Stephen Romanow’s exhibit runs through Sept. 28 at the Gibson Gallery.

Is it possible that most traumatic events, even with animals, can attach an essence to a location for many decades to come afterwards?

That is the question that artist Stephen Romanow asks in one of his paintings called, “Saskabush” that was part of his exhibit at the Gibson Gallery in Amherstburg.

Romanow was on hand for a reception Sunday afternoon to talk about his unique way of combining words and art.

“About 10 years ago I started writing. I had a lot of ghost and spiritual experiences in my life. The stories would touch on a subject,” explained Romanow.

In “Saskabush,” he writes about when he was six-years-old, growing up in Saskatchewan and seeing a ghost in the basement of the house across the road.

Although he was born in the prairies, Romanow grew up in Windsor and now lives in Ruthven. He has been retired since 2017 and continues to create.

“The thing I enjoy the most about doing these is the diversity. It was always interesting and fun.”

Another piece is called “Football on the Floor” and is based on a vision he had when sleeping in his basement room at home.

“I saw this female silvery-grey figure walk into the room. She came up to me and bent over and started kissing me on the lips,” he writes.

Romanow continued to write that he ran out of the room and saw a football spiraling towards him.

The exhibit at the Gibson Gallery was called From the Depths of My Soul and included a piece called Alien which is a nice painting of Mr. Spock from Star Trek.

“A couple of years ago I counted how many paintings I have on the go and it’s over 100. I’m never bored,” said Romanow.

Romanow has a degree in Visual Arts, Communication Studies and Education from the University of Windsor and has been working on a book that will included up to 120 pictures with a title called, Ghost Stories and Other Thoughts.

Up next at the gallery which is located at 140 Richmond Street in Amherstburg is Timid Timothy Illustrations by Stephen’s wife, Della Kasandra Romanow. It runs from October 2-19.

Form more information, contact the Gibson Gallery at 519-736-2826 or visit www.gibsonartgallery.com. The Gibson Gallery is located at 140 Richmond St.

From the Depths of My Soul ends Sept 28

By Fred Groves