WATCH 'HOUSE in the CLOUDS' NOW
Timed to a notable exhibit of a world-class artist's work, view for free below the documentary 'HOUSE IN THE CLOUDS: The Artistic Life of Robert Singleton' | march16.2025
CLICK VIDEO TO VIEW or WATCH LATER AT YOUTUBE HERE
By Douglas John Imbrogno | Above is the full 1-hour, 9-minute documentary, ‘HOUSE IN THE CLOUDS: The Artistic Life of Robert Singleton,’ an independent production by AmpMediaProject.com and Douglas John Imbrogno and Bobby Lee Messer. We’re releasing it for free viewing timed to an exhibit of several stunning, large-format paintings seen in the film that are on view through March 30, 2025, in the exhibit ‘Memento Mori,’ at the Gradient Project Space in Thomas, W.Va. Robert Singleton himself will give a gallery talk there at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 29. I heartily recommend hearing him discuss these ethereal, powerful paintings, or traveling to the gallery another day to experience them up close. If you can’t make it to the artful burg of Thomas, experience them in a different fashion and learn more of the context of their creation by watching ‘HOUSE in the CLOUDS’ above or at Youtube. The film was just chosen as an Official Selection of the LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival, which takes place July 13 in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware.
The Gradient Project Space exhibit features works from two of Robert’s rarely seen series, ‘Visions’ (1978) and ‘First Light’ (2017), including three paintings never shown in person before. In these large-scale works, he visually represents the edges of our mystical understanding of light and life, darkness and death. The artist says of these works:
“I became unnerved when it occurred to me that this painting could be for the edification of the dark side of humanity. My thinking was resolved by concluding that we carry both sides inside of us and that people can be inspired by the dark.”
THE FILM’S 2023 DEBUT
The world premiere of the documentary ‘HOUSE in the CLOUDS: The Artistic Life of Robert Singleton’ took place in front of about 300 people on the Clay Center main stage in Charleston, W.Va., on September 17, 2023. The film tracks a world-class artist’s life from trauma to triumph, from tribulation and deep loss, to equilibrium and mastery. It's a tale of many things. How soulful spirit and determination can overcome a traumatic, wounding childhood. What it was like to be a gay young man growing up in America back in the day. (Robert was ejected from art school in Richmond, Va., in a 'gay purge' and branded with a mental hospital diagnosis of 'sociopathic personality disorder with sexual deviation.’)
It is also a tale of an artist's progression from conventional imagery to award-winning abstract expression, and then on into Robert's 'light paintings' and mystical horizon lines and clouds. These depict the meeting space between earth and heaven, which are at once stunningly observed and deeply spiritual. The film is also a story of the devastation and deep losses from the HIV-AIDS crisis when it hit Robert's circle hard in the 1990s. And how Robert came to know Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a pioneer in near-death work, who worked with him and many others in how best to compassionately accompany people as they die. Finally, 'HOUSE IN THE CLOUDS' is a tale of a life well-lived and an artist who at 87, after all he has experienced, continues to paint and create at the top of his game, a jovial spirit on a mountaintop in the Allegheny highlands of West Virginia.
The film’s soundtrack features a wide-ranging slate of West Virginia-connected musicians including: Paul Callicoat; Will Carter; Spencer Elliott; Neil Gillies and Janet Gillies; Jarren Jackson; Robin Kessinger; Todd Hallawell; Bobby Lee Messer; Jim Probst; Jeremy Soule; Ron Sowell; JB Stalnaker; Bob Thompson and other artists. There’s also a stirring excerpt from a Vidor organ piece by Beckie Davy, organist at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, near where Robert grew up.
FOR MORE ON THE FILM’S CREATION, visit houseintheclouds.movie
SEE MORE OF ROBERT SINGLETON’S ARTWORK: resingleton.com
THANKS TO THESE FOLKS FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN
Raising money for an independent film production without institutional support is not for the faint of heart. Via the wonderful SEEDandSPARK platform, we were able to meet our $12,000 crowdfunding goal, and then some with additional support that rolled in via that oldest of crowdfunding platforms — checks in the mail. SPECIAL MENTION TO: The Jeff and Deb Lamb Foundation for a generous seed grant that got us going and to Laurie McKeown for financial support and cheerleading throughout. And to all you many good folks below. (If I missed you, message me at douglaseyeATgmailDOTcom and I will add you — and thanks!):
Topper Sherwood; Steve Payne; Annabel Park; Larry Groce; Anita Harris; Michelle Schiavone; Bill Hart; Angie Davis; Jon and Katherine Wikstrom; Margaret Bernstein; Betty Chilton; Susan and Thomas Boldin; Gayle and Eddie Digman; Anonymous; Pam Hawley; Paul Yandura; Diana Jones; Joey Conway; Debra Beatty; Linda Childers; Anita Roy Dobbs; Sarah H; Kathy Lester; Tony White; Rosalie Earle; David Mortell; Fred and Tracy Hertz; Paul; Jeff Allen; The Lavenders; Kelli Caseman; Dave and Lynne Carek; Pamela Ross; Cynthia Wegman; Jude Binder; Heidi Muller; Ken Epperly and Ken Fox.
Elaine McMillion Sheldon; The Gaucher Family; Tijah Bumgarner; Ron Sowell; Alison Gilkey; Michael Tierney; Vernon W. Gras; Carlton Hardy; Jim; Albert Perrone; James Cochran; Paul Sheridan and Kate Fitzgerald; John Korra; Sue & Ellen; Suzanne Thorniley; Debra Beatty; Julie Pratt; David Imbrogno; Robert E. Friedman; Cynthia Odell; Mary Artino; Kim Wilkinson; Beth Darby; Annabel Park; Sue D; Rachel Dash; Juanita Rodriguez; Anonymous; Barbara Steinke; Yasha Izor; Richard Vesely; and Prashant Shah.
Will Carter; Linda Nyikes; Eric Eyre; Sam Holdren; Grace Imbrogno McKeown; Brian and Brenna Marcum; Randi Park; Imbrognito; Julie Pratt; Peggy Hawse; Doug and Susan Minnerly; Linda Arnold; Mark Barsman; Jill Schacter; Christopher Pazoles; Marylin McKeown; Judith Larson; Berard and Pat; Lucas Imbrogno-McKeown; Gary Reynolds; Joe Bird; Joan and Sam St. Clair; Jim Probst; Doris Fields; Phil Evans; Bill and Becky Kimmons; Linda Reeves; Kirk and Janet Judd; and Dawn Warfield; Thad Settle; and Melody Urbanic.
