Groovy to the Max February 18, 2009 Whenever someone says, "You live where?  Don't you get bored? There's nothing to do there."  We just smile and shake our heads.  This is one of the greatest places to live (and we've lived a lot of different places around the country).   One of the best things to happen around here was the Clinton Presidential Center.  Regardless of your political persuasion or what you personally thought about our 42nd President, the Presidential Center, Clinton Foundation, and the Clinton School of Public Service all work to bring in some pretty amazing speakers and exhibits.  And one of those is Peter Max.   On Presidents Day, the Clinton Presidential Center welcomed Peter Max himself at a special lecture to open the exhibit, "Peter Max Paints America."  It was a well attended lecture, and Max himself gave a very interesting talk.  We had no idea he had done so many things.   The exhibit itself is well worth a visit.  More than 250 pieces of Max's work are on display throughout the library, including 100 images of Clinton.  You'll also get to see a rare look at the painter's earilest works - portraits painted in the realism style in which he was trained.  The iconic psychedelic posters that made him famous are there, of course, along with more recent work.    One of the most interesting aspects of the exhibit is that it shows Max from the beginning as a young artist to now, a man who has developed his own style and lived through many others.  It was fascinating to watch the changes in style, but never in color.  Max uses color like it's going out of style.  But that's what we like about his work.  The canvas is never still, always moving, and always bursting with bright color.  It's a happy exhibit, and one that makes us proud to live where we do.   Peter Max Paints America The Clinton Presidential Center Through May 25 http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/