Painting: Larry Adler, aka The Butterfly

A musician of great sensitivity, Larry Adler's contributions elevated the harmonica to concert status. Despite his inability to read music, he played by ear and from memory, showcasing his innate talent. Early on, his interpretation of Beethoven's 'Minuet in G' at a harmonica-laying contest sponsored by The Baltimore Sun defied expectations and won the prize, highlighting his artistic prowess. Blacklisted for his political views (denounced as a Communist sympathizer) in America, he defiantly stands on the right side of the painting, embodying resistance to societal pressures. Adler's message, “Resist the pressure to conform. Better be a lonely individualist than a contended conformist,” resonates deeply here, symbolized by the butterfly and the color yellow.  In this painting, the harmonica is portrayed as a chrysalis. Adler, with guiding hands, transforms it into a butterfly poised to take flight, much like his music, which is ready to grace center stage. This imagery beautifully enca