First Impressions

Welcome! I invite you to read my thoughts about art making (art making is much harder than people think!) and art viewing. I often wonder who stops to think about what purpose art has in today's world and why we are even making art. I welcome your thoughts, too.

So, here's what's been going on:

In the Fall of 2009, I was pleased to be invited to participate in a project called Notable Arts, which pairs a participating Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra musician with an Indiana artist. My partner musician, Donna Lively Clark, a violist with the ICO, selected and played for me music she finds inspirational--------- Danza #4, by Haitian Classical Composer, Ludovic Lamothe. Donna explained that she and other musicians from the United States and other countries travel to Haiti periodically to teach in a music school in Port au Prince and music camps in two small communities outside the city. When introducing me to Danza #4, Donna spoke lovingly of the children and adults who are involved in the Haitian music program and their wonderful spirit despite being confronted with many daily hardships. Donna showed me pictures of the Haitian school and colleagues involved in the school. Last week, I finished the painting, "Danza #4: First Impressions", inspired by Donna, her stories, and Danza #4.

I loved this project------ painting an interpretation of Lamothe's beautiful and haunting music. The music expresses Donna's experience with the music school-----the students, the Haitian adults who run the school and who teach there, the countless dedicated non-Haitian musicians who travel there to teach, the nun who founded the school and those who support it financially.

Art gave me a chance to say something and I am grateful for that opportunity.