At first, I was skeptical about going to the Art Museum. When my teacher Mrs. Stiller said we were going there as a class, I didn't anticipate there would be anything there that caught my attention. I was wrong. I walked into the room and saw this particular painting that caught my eye. Automatically I felt a connection to it; drawn to it like a moth is to light. It is called “Rootz Within” by Nate Leutgers. This painting made me recognize and feel things I didn't think of before.

In this picture there’s a reggae band playing music. As soon as I looked at this painting I started singing “One Love” by Bob Marley. I have listened to a lot of Reggae bands and they sing many songs of the legend, Bob Marley.

If I stepped into this picture I would be outside in Nevis at the Muskie Days Festival. The band dressed in colorful clothing would be singing “One Love”, and I would be surrounded by people having a good time. It would be in the evening when the sun is just starting to set, but I can still feel the warmth of its glow. I would smell burgers and fries and want to get some myself. Everybody would be having a good time and swaying to the music, like they were one with the wind.

The painting depicts the musicians all looking different and wearing their own clothes. They all have different nationalities. There is a female standing to the right of the lead singer. Reggae music welcomes all and speaks to everyone. That’s what's great about it.

The background of the painting is welcoming and inviting. There is a vertical rainbow symbolizing that it’s not music for certain people, anyone can listen. Reggae music is known to be a form of protest, and with the rainbow it signifies that everyone is equal.

The rainbow also sets the mood. Even though I pictured a happy song for this painting, I think the rainbow shows the different sides that reggae music has. It can be happy, angry, sad, protesting, and other feelings as well. Therefore, the rainbow has a couple different meanings, yet they all tie in perfectly: that everyone or everything is equal.

I see green dots in the painting, scattered across the air. They look as though they are bouncing off one another,  like sound particles we can actually see, as if every chord played acts as a lifeline for these particles. When you listen to Reggae music everybody is vibing off of each other like these particles are doing. In the back, a black drum has small marks that coming off it, scattered into the air. It’s almost as if you can see the sound waves coming off of the drum. The reason the drums are the only instrument with these marks coming off of it, is because of the drum’s power. The drum beat of a song determines the tempo, mood, and rhythm. Especially in reggae music.
The cool thing about music is that it brings you back to a specific moment in time.

When I look at this painting I’m reminded of two memories. My first memory; from last year, going on vacation to Mexico. We rented jeeps and drove around the island to all of these cool bars and restaurants. This one place we went to was called Bob Marleys. There was a statue of him and the whole place was painted red, yellow and green. They had permanent markers that patrons use to write on all the walls, tables, floors, and steps. As we were sitting on the beach looking out at the ocean that’s about 20 yards away from us, we could hear Bob Marley's beautiful voice singing in the background, making everyone there feel more at peace. It was a great moment that I will never forget. Sometimes I put on Bob Marley, close my eyes, and pretend I am there.

The other memory I get from this painting was from this past summer.. I was staying with my Aunt and cousin down in the cities. One of the nights my Aunt and I drove to this park that had a reggae band playing outside. We walked up and there were about thirty people there. We had a blanket and sat down while listening to them play. There were people dancing down by the stage, but when I looked around everyone was swaying to the music, nodding their heads, and tapping a foot. We couldn't help but move to the rhythm of the beat. We were all one listening to this band. All these people who didn't know each other, vibing together and all sharing that memory. There was something so personal about feeling these emotions with these people. Even though we all come from different places and have had different experiences in our life, we were friends in that moment.

The painting as a whole sticks out to you with its loud colors, strikingly different musicians, and the raw feeling you get from it.

I am wondering how the artist felt while painting this. Was he smiling? Did he feel nostalgic and wished he was still in that moment?

If I had been painting this, I would have put on some reggae music and let the good vibes flow through me like they were in that moment of listening to the band. I am thankful we went to the Art Museum, and saw some interesting art. It makes you put things into a different perspective. I think that’s the purpose of art. Put things into a different perspective, makes you think a little harder, and feel a little more.