TWELVE VOICES FROM ONE: Poetry: The Dance of Life

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Poetry: The Dance of Life

The Dance of Life

written by Alice Zimmermann

in response to the vibrant and beautiful artwork of

Shirley Metcalf,

created on silk noil.

Red, vibrant, orange, yellow joy

Light and whispy

Edgy and twisty

In twirls and swirls

I move

This way and that

Arms flowing, eyes closing

Hips shaking, shoulders rolling

Head bobs, toes tap

Hair flies, fingers snap

Hands waving, feet shifting

Knees bouncing, skin glistening

I move

This way and that

My Spirit soars in kaleidoscope reds

I dance myself out of my head

Until I see my self as all

In all

...and I move

This way and that

2 comments:

CarolApril 18, 2012 at 11:58 PM
This blog is an absolutely beautiful tribute to your teacher and the twelve artists exhibiting. The addition of the poetry is magical. I'll have to mention it on Facebook. Congratulations to you all.
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JeannieApril 21, 2012 at 12:59 PM
The dance of the poetry and the artwork together are beautiful.
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This exhibition represents nearly three years of intense and dedicated study on the part of the participants. The Art Cloth Mastery Program 2010, in which they were enrolled, required five week long sessions in the San Antonio studio, in addition to demanding assignments which were addressed during the interim periods.

Artists interested in surface design processes are at a disadvantage in this country. Most opportunities for study require either enrollment on site at a university or college, or are offered as week-long workshops through adult education summer programming. The inability to relocate to a program venue inhibits artistic mastery, as does the limited experience of a week’s class without a systematic follow-up.

The Art Cloth Mastery Program was designed to address this reality. The selected participants study surface design processes on cloth, and also color, design and the articulation of a personal visual language. Each artist is required to complete a research project related to the dyes, chemicals or paints used as part of the patterning palette. When assembled, these projects will become a catalogue of research worthy of contributing to the surface design field at large.

Professional behavior is also a topic of discourse. Artists prepared a resume, visual documentation, an artist’s statement and a biography as part of the requirement for completion of the program.

This exhibition is a sampling of the finest work being presented by serious students of surface design today. Each of these artists will continue to generate studio work for exhibition after the program is completed. A few may choose to extend their circle of influence by teaching. Others may decide to write a book or produce some other lasting contribution to the field. The future is rich with possibility. It has been my great pleasure to accompany them on this exciting path. I congratulate each on the efforts of the past two and a half years.

Jane Dunnewold