SHAPE Gallery features monk's 'outsider art'

SHIPPENSBURG - For the month of April, Shippensburg Arts Programming and Education will feature paintings by a Hare Krishna Monk who has been painting since the 1990s when he was in his 50s.

In a press release announcing the show, Satsvarupa das Goswami said,  "I had not heard of outsider art or 'art brut' (a French word for ‘rough art’). I just painted for the fun of it, but with a passion and as a therapeutic release from my migraine headache syndrome.

“I don't really consider myself as belonging to any school of art. I wasn’t imitating anyone. I wasn’t copying Dubuffet or Picasso. I was my own man, painting for pleasure and pursuing my spiritual path by rendering pictures of Radha-Krishna, Gaura-Nitai, Vaisnavas, sadhus (holy men) and pictures of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, often with a self portrait beside him.”

Satsvarupa das Goswami has lived a diverse life, from Temple President to biographer of his spiritual master to world traveler. He now lives in seclusion in New York State with a few devoted servants who take care of his daily needs.

When you go:

The Art of Satsvarupa – A Hare Krishna Monk.

April 1-28

SHAPE Gallery (Shippensburg Arts Programming & Education)

19 East King Street, Shippensburg

Opening reception 6-8 p.m. April 1

Gallery hours: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday

www.shapeart.org