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Ekphrasis IX 2020 Virtual Exhibition
SET 3. Visual Artist Initiators and Writer Responders, cont.

H. Out There (Karen Fenley), I am from the Ocean (Windflower)
I.  Splash! (Laura Corben), Cabin Fever (Holly Tannen)
J. Bird of Pray (Mary T. Anderson), Big Red (Karin Uphoff)

Intro Page   Set 1   Set  2   Set 4   Set 5   Set 6   Afterword
Out There by Karen Fenley.  Iridescent acrylic on black plexiglass. 18 x 18in  No longer available for sale.

Picture

​


Artist's Note:
Karen's alternative title for her painting is
Out There (Where I’ll be when I’m Gone).
Poet's note:
​The pulsating painting carried me into another dimension.  While on this journey I heard the words “liminal space” on the radio. They resonated for me.  I had the seed of an idea for my poem.  I began to think about the myriad of liminal spaces-those thresholds on which we hover. Birth and death and all the geography in between.  And for me there is always water.  From my mother’s womb to the Mendocino Coast.             windflower


I Am from the Ocean 
Writer's response ​by ​windflower.

​I am from the ocean of my mother’s womb
before I knew the taste
of ocean brine
the feel of barnacles
against my palm
 
I am from the ocean of my mother’s womb
before I knew the call 
of sea shells 
the sensation of sand
between my toes
 
I am from the ocean of my mother’s womb
before I knew the color
of sun seeping through water
the moist chiffon of fog
grazing my face
​
I am from the ocean of my mother’s womb

before I knew the scent
of wind poppies
purple sand verbena
reaching for my ankles
 
I am from the ocean 
of my mother’s womb
that liminal space

​Splash! by Laura Corben. Oil painting, 12x12. $350.
Picture

​Cabin Fever
 
lyrics by Holly Tannen.

​Let’s go hunting, said Risky Rob
Let’s go hunting, said Robin to Bob
What shall we hunt for? said Daniel to Joe
Hunt for a rat! said Billy Barlow.
 
​
I’m going crazy, said Risky Rob
I’m gonna scream, said Boisterous Bob
Cabin fever, their grandmother said 
Gimme that phone, said Frivolous Fred.
 
Let’s go bowling, said Risky Rob
Let’s shoot baskets, said Boisterous Bob
Do your homework, their grandmother said
I’m playing Minecraft, said Frivolous Fred.
 
It’s ninety degrees out, said Risky Rob
I’m gonna melt, said Boisterous Bob
Get in the car, their grandmother said
Go to the coast! cried Frivolous Fred.

​
Are we there yet? said Risky Rob
I gotta pee, said Boisterous Bob
Look - the ocean! their grandmother said
I killed a zombie, said Frivolous Fred.
 
Mendocino! said Risky Rob
Big River beach! said Boisterous Bob
Stay in the shallows, their grandmother said
I’ll bring my phone, said Frivolous Fred.
 
Is that an orca? said Risky Rob
Is that a whale? said Boisterous Bob
Don’t get eaten, their grandmother  said
I dropped my phone! cried Frivolous Fred.

Comment by the painter: 
A cool picture for a hot summer day.

​Notes by the songwriter:
The words to Holly's song are to the tune Billy Barlow, a Texas folk song based on an English ritual song, Hunting The Wren.

Bird of Pray Series - Buzzard ​by printer Mary T. Anderson.  Engraving. 6 x 9 unframed. $75.
​
Picture

Big Red by responder Karin Uphoff

It lay below the power line                                         
frayed feathers torn and rumpled                                
had flown great wings one last time                           
before its soaring crumpled.    

​Bent above its gasping breast
it’s one eye looking vacant,
took off my shirt to make a nest
and asked it to be patient.
 
Wrapped in cotton, struggle ceased                            
carried it home with purpose,                                     
snuck in garage, dark tomb of peace                           
and waited for life to resurface.                                  
 
Washed off grime and bits of blood
examined its raptor tail feathers
its feeble fight, caused my tears to flood
could I heal this avian treasure?
 
I gave it water and closed the door                             
went in the house for dinner,                                      
had dreams of flight in which I soared,                      
a bright future began to glimmer.                               
 
Cool dawn next morn I hurried to find
box bed with my ward was abandoned,
high in rafters glared hawk unconfined   
over kingdom it fully commanded.

​Haggard feathers, now dry and fluffed                       
big buteo spent some time preening                           
it seemed double in size – had I been ruffed?            
with panicky thoughts I was teaming . . .                   
 
How to release this magical fowl
sharp talons and hook-tipped beak?
Slipped on work gloves wrapped in towels
and climbed ladder to softly speak.      ...cont.



of its feathered beauty and dignity                             
how I meant to take it outside                                     
for its red-tail taste of sky’s liberty                             
and with a high kreech it replied.                                
 
While it flapped, I ducked, to clasp its feet
it politely refrained from pecking,
wings were strong though one eye did weep
health details, I’d no way of checking.
 
Shrouded in terry I carried it out                                
set it gently atop of old fencepost,                              
adjusting to sun as it scanned about                           
wings lifted to sail from its host.                                
 
Steady it climbed on each vault of air
circling earth ever higher,
then returned to follow me everywhere
giving flight to my deeper desires.
 
I longed to aid this two-legged tribe                           
so joined a bird rehab center,                                      
beginning anew, I swallowed my pride                      
to shadow the young knowing mentors.                                 
 
Now, I care for raptors each day,
who are injured by human obtrusion
and sometimes Big Red dips down to play
our spirits forever a fusion.


​
Karin's addendum:
Up to 64 million birds, mostly raptors, are killed each year by U.S. power lines, with between 8 and 57 million birds killed by collision and between 0.9 and 11.6 million birds killed by electrocution. 



This is Set 3. Click to go to Intro Page   Set 1   Set  2   Set 4   Set 5   Set 6   Afterword
Picture
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  • Welcome     
  • Artists   
  • Find/Contact     
  • Info,Calendaar,Events   
  • Exhibitions
  • ​Newsletter
  • Welcome !
  • Artists
    • Monthly Sampler
    • Photography >
      • Shanti Balsé
      • Sharon Garner
      • Pat Toth-Smith
    • Painting, Printmaking, Drawing, Multimedia >
      • Mary T. Anderson
      • Shanti Benoit
      • Karen Bowers
      • Laura Corben
      • David L. Cross
      • Joseph DuVivier
      • Stephen Garner
      • Debra Lennox
      • Karen Embree Reynolds
      • Robert Spies
      • Lynne Whiting
      • Robert Yelland (paintings)
      • Lynne Zickerman Olson
    • Jewelry, Sculpture, Ceramics, other 3D Art >
      • Jim Cowles
      • Maralee Greene (ceramics)
      • R Spies
      • Robert Yelland (jewelry)
    • Guest Artists >
      • Lynne Butler (Ceramics)
      • Sev Ickes modern primitive art
  • About Us
    • Find and Contact Us
    • Info, Calendar, Events
  • Exhibitions
    • Ekphrasis XI 2022 Exhibition >
      • Set 1 Ekphrasis XI 2022
      • Set 3 Ekphrasis XI 2022
    • Jessica's "Homecoming"
    • SBMC Bank Exhibition
    • Ekphrasis X 2021 Exhibition >
      • Set 1 Ekphrasis X 2021
    • Collages Online Exhibit
    • Heart and Flowers
    • Marine Mendocino
    • Transitions
    • Ekphrasis IX Virtual Exhibition
  • ArtNotes