Art Inspiration: Wade in the Water

 

Hello My Fellow Art Lovers-

“One must say Yes to life, and embrace it wherever it is found - and it is found in terrible places. … For nothing is fixed, forever and forever, it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have. The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.”
― James Baldwin



THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO THE HARRISON CENTER SHOW FRIDAY!!!!!


Please DONATE HERE to help pay Josh for his performance. The only payment he is receiving from the performance is from your donations. We have raised a few hundred dollars but I'd love to give him more!

 Margaret Bond's Troubled Water, Hirschten, Sold

One piece that many people asked about at the show was "Troubled Water." 



Margaret Bond's composed the music to the song weaving in notes from the hymn, "Wade in the Water."

The words to the hymn are:
 Fisk Jubliee Singer's Version Copyright 1905



To create this piece I read a lot of writings by theologians about the hymn.  Many talked about cleansing waters and baptism. 

But why is the water troubled?  This beautiful explaination was written by Howard Thurman:

“For the slaves the ‘troubled waters’ meant the ups and downs, the vicissitudes of life. Within the context of the ‘troubled’ waters of life there are healing waters, because God is in the midst of the turmoil. Do not shrink from moving confidently out into the choppy seas. Wade in the water, because God is troubling the water.”


William Grant Still Africa Land of Romance, Visions of Music Show, Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas, Addie Hirschten, 2024 Available at the Harrison Center

Life can be rough and choppy, like the dangerous sea, but we must emerse ourselves in it.  To be fully alive we cannot just dip our toe into the edge.  We must move with the swell of the tide. We must participate in life. 

I believe that this is what James Baldwin meant when he said, "One must say Yes to life."  We must say yes even when some terrible things happen.  We must remember that it is also wonderful.    

Since I am about to move Friday evening was so bittersweet! Thanks to so many generous patrons all but two of the paintings sold. 

The last two paintings can be purchased through the Harrison Center's site here.

 Harry Burleigh's A New Hiding Place, Hirschten, Available at the Harrison Center

Thank you old friends for coming to say hello! Thank you art patrons for buying the paintings. Thank you Sarah and all of the folks at the Harrison Center for hosting our show. And again thank you Josh Thompson for filling the air with music and keeping the memory of the composers alive.

“Music has to be human, and people have to like it; it has to move them spiritually and intellectually."
- Margaret Bonds, 1964

 

 

May this message inspire you! Feel free to share