Do You See What I Hear?
Valerie Savarie . Miki Harder . Penney Bidwell
Music plays a vital role in our lives—we use it to celebrate, grieve, meditate, and move our bodies in a way that we can not control. It stirs up memories from the past, moves us to tears, makes us want to jump for joy, and connects us to a greater consciousness.
In “Do You See What I Hear?” Valerie Savarie, Miki Harder, and Penney Bidwell explore creating artwork based on twelve songs – each artist selecting four. How do these artists interpret the songs similarly, and how do they differ? Explore the culmination of seven months of experiences and pondering translated into clay, paper, and canvas.
Valerie’s picks:
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
Groove Armada “At the River”
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
Miki’s picks:
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
Penney’s picks:
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
1: Miki Harder: “Gates of Valhalla” $600
Oil and canvas 15" x 30"
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
Female warriors in service to Odin, chose which warriors go to Valhalla after dying in battle. They were often depicted on horseback but this goddess chooses to hang with her Raven clan. I absolutely LOVED painting this. My Momma was a warrior in her own right and I’m certain this Valkyrie scooped her right up.
2: Miki Harder: "Silent Lucidity" $600
Oil on canvas, 24" X 12",
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
This song makes me cry Every time. The lyrics say “… I will be watching over you ~ gonna help you see it through ~I will protect you in the night ~I’m smiling next to you” My Mom always had my back, and I hers. I feel we were (are) the same person…. And me in this life, with more resources to work thru classic generational trauma …I almost feel a duty to put an end to some old ~before me ~crap thought patterns … but even tho she’s “gone” I still feel her smiling next to me.
3: Miki Harder: "Going Home" $400
Oil on Panel, 20" x10"
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
The title “Going Home “was originally given to my Valhalla piece.. but then found more meaning in Cat Stevens “Wild World” in a Leaving theme….. my version of going home lay more in the realm of end of life than venturing out into the world.
4: Miki Harder: "Earthbound Misfit" $1275
Oil on canvas, 24"x48"
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
I have wanted to try painting a rendition of this song for ages. For me, each part of it is rich with imagery. The line; “across the clouds I see my shadow fly, out of the corner of my watering eye”… it’s like I can FEEL it, hear it and see it …
5: Miki Harder: “Ave Maria" $575
Oil on panel, 20” x 16”
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
My Grandma Marie was a voice trained opera singer; which is amazing unless you are an 8 year old kid standing next to her in church when she’s belting out Amazing Grace . Mostly mortified back then, I can now appreciate her talent. When she died, a friend (trained voice) sang Ave Maria….not a dry eye in the room. When My mom died, Dad and I sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her…no dry eyes there either.
6: Miki Harder: “Momma Wolf" $300
Oil on clay board, 11" X 14”
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
This song struck me as such a deep nod to generational trauma..and confounded at how express that, my instinct was to “go to the animals” for answers. The relationship betwixt Wolves and Ravens felt like a relatively good fit, if not in theme, at least in form.
7: Miki Harder: "Carnival” $275
Oil on panel, 6" X 12"
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
I can say with certainty, I listened to our sound track 50 or more times. Music, lyrics and meanings eventually flowed into one another. THUS, my juggling jester, perched on a perfect white Percheron (insert heart emoji) blended with Neptune and Saturn from Gustav Holst’s “the Planets” AND “Carnival” by Natalie Merchant.
8: Miki Harder: "Pre Moth" $175
Oil on panel, 6" x 8"
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
Is she in love with the caterpillar ~ or gonna eat the caterpillar?
9: Miki Harder: "Soul of Dragonfly" $425
Oil on panel, 9"x12"
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
When my Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, we watched her personality change, and her mind slowly morph, then ultimately it forgot all the things it takes to keep a body alive. Tho I learned to be in love with “whomever Mom was “each day.. I missed and began to forget “who” she “was”. I grappled with WHERE her mind went…. I mean I know clinically... but spiritually, where did it go?
Driving back and forth to Colorado Springs from Durango every month I noticed more and more Kestrels lurking on the power lines. I chose to imbue the Kestrel with the original spirit of my Mom’s mind, till she could be relieved of her diminishing body. Higher Love baby.
10: Miki Harder: "True Love" $600
Oil on canvas, 30" x 15"
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
Every spring, the Ravens at the Nordic center where I work pair up and just get insanely cute with each other. They preen each other, stare in to each other’s eyes and make a great display of their affection for one other. Ravens mate for life so this is some real True Love in action.
11: Miki Harder: "As a Matter of Fact ..." $300
Oil on panel, 15" x 9"
Groove Armada “At the River”
“As a matter of fact I AM fond of sand dunes and salty air!” Said the little shore bird.
A specific image for this song took its time to present itself. The lyrics repeat “..if you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air…” I was scrolling thru pictures I’d taken and came across a trip last year to the beach. I took a jillion pictures of these plump lil’ Wilson’s Plovers, then I thought ... Well yes, THEY absolutely love salty air and sand dunes!
12: Miki Harder: “Neptune" $175
Oil on panel, 7"x 5"
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”
A Big BLUE planet…it’s an ice giant…the 8Th and furthest planet from the sun. .The thought of a cosmic breach, an escape from the confines of a cold place…sounded divine.
13: Penney Bidwell: "Nocturnal Reverie" $595 Ceramic & pure gold luster, 15" x 9" x6"
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
“It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
Commanding in another world
Suddenly you hear and see this magic new dimension”
This song made me think about dreams and nightmares and the power to alter them through lucid dreaming. Beetles represent the power of transformation.
14: Penney Bidwell: "Beetle 1" $25
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 4" 2" x 1"
15: Penney Bidwell: "Beetle 2" $25
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 4" 2" x 1"
16: Penney Bidwell: "Beetle 3" $30
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 5" x 2.5" x 1"
17: Penney Bidwell: "Scarab 2" $20
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 2" x 1" x 1"
18: Penney Bidwell: "Elegy" $1500
Ceramic, 16" x 10" x 7"
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
“You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two
Because I never want to see you sad, girl
Don't be a bad girl
But if you want to leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware”
This piece is a portrait of my brother. He struggled with his own demons and coped with an addiction that eventually took his life. His wife created a memorial video and chose to use this song much of the video consisted of happier times from his childhood. Sculpting this piece I remembered him as a fun and playful child and symbolized this with the newspaper hat. The coat with the tarnished buttons is a nod to his short time in the navy.
19: Penney Bidwell: "Celestial Tabernacle" $1500
With antique plinth $1700
Ceramic 14" x 11" x 10”
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”: This music felt very magical and ethereal. I thought about a woman who embodies the allure of the universe and so I sculpted her with constellation tattoos and stars in her hair. She has Neptune tattooed on her neck.
20: Penney Bidwell: “Honey" $1125
Ceramic, 15" x 10" x 6"
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
“So tell me what's wrong with the feeling
I'm a flower, you're my bee”
I love the happy vibes of this song. Flowers and bees are motifs that appear often in my work. I sculpted a lady in a honeycomb dress, covered in flowers. She proudly wears her sacred heart tattoo on her chest.
21: Penney Bidwell: "Mourning" $295
Ceramic, 10" x 7" x 5"
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
“Nunc et in hora mortis
Now and in the hour of death”
While in Mexico for Semana Santa, I heard Ave Maria sung by local choral groups. I witnessed a group of women in a parade wearing black lace mantillas. They each carried a candle that gave their face a strange orange glow. There was such beauty in their sadness and devotion that I tried to convey in this piece.
22: Penney Bidwell: "Tapestry of Souls" $560
Ceramic, antique thread, 9" x 10" x 5"
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
“A yearning, and it's real to me
There must be someone who's feeling for me”
The title of this song made me think about the ultimate love or connection. This piece depicts a male and female figure with hearts that are connected by several threads. On one level this can be interpreted as lovers or soul mates. From a Jungian perspective it can be interpreted as an integration of the Anima and Animus---the female and male archetypes that reside in all of us.
23: Penney Bidwell: “Collecting Memories”: $375
Ceramic, handwoven yarn, 15" x 5" x 3"
Groove Armada “At the River”
“If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air
Quaint little villages here and there”
I wasn’t familiar with this song and did a little research. I learned that the lyrics came from an older piece of music referencing Cape Cod. I was reminded of spending summers on Cape Cod with my grandmother where mermaid imagery caught my imagination since childhood. I sculpted this mermaid with a hand-knotted net that holds skulls of those who have passed away including my grandmother.
24: Penney Bidwell: "Finding Wings" $375
Ceramic, 14" x 12" x 4 "
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
“A soul in tension that's learning to fly”
Recently I became an empty nester. A friend sent me a poem called “Empty Nest” by Donna Ashworth. There is a stanza of this poem that reads:
My nest is as it should be now, empty.
But I will not be empty little one.
I will fly, just like you, find my new place in this story.
This piece is about sprouting my own wings and learning to fly. My symbolic self is holding an egg for a new birth and a reminder of the past.
25: Penney Bidwell: "Becoming" $375
Ceramic, 13” x 4 x" 3"
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
“Oh, I'll dust my lemon lies
With powder, pink and sweet
The day I stop is the day you change
And fly away from me”
I took inspiration for this piece directly from the title. This caterpillar lady has a butterfly in her hair, a nod to her future. Caterpillars are symbolic of change.
26: Penney Bidwell: "Behind the Mask" $1425
With antique plinth $1625
Ceramic, ribbon, 19" x 10" x 8
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
“If my good intentions go running wild
If I cause you pain, my own sweet child
Won't you promise me you'll be the one
My silver bullet in the gun”
The lyrics in this song made me think about my relationship with my daughter. Our relationship is filled with love but it is not without inadvertent pain on both of our parts. Working on this sculpture was a chance for me to work through complex feelings.
27 – 31: Penney Bidwell: "A Cauldron of Bats” $275 each
Ceramic, 5" x 15" x 3"
27: Gretchen
28: Greta
29: Brunhilde
30: Freya
31: Agnes
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
“Die armen Tiere ächzen vor Angst;
The wretched beasts are groaning with fear”
Instead of women riding on winged horses, I was inspired by women with bat wings. Bats are a symbol of darkness and strength. The music carries such power and strength that I chose to create a cauldron of female bats in flight.
32: Penney Bidwell, "Butterfly" $1550
Ceramic, steel, antique plinth, 32" x 18" x 12"
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
“In a carnival, of sights to see
All the cheap thrill seekers vendors and the dealers
They crowded around me”
This song makes me think about my family of carnies. My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all on the traveling carnival. They had varied roles: dancers, train master, ride and concession owners, talker and side show performer. This piece is about my great-grandmother whom I never met, Viola Simpson, the tattooed lady who danced under the name “Little Butterfly.”
33: Valerie Savarie: "Mesmerized" $125
Book page & cover scraps, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage wall paper, vintage frame, 6" x 4", famed: 11.25" x 9.25"
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
When I started working out concepts for the pieces for this show, I played around using book scraps and rejected paintings to form dimensional sketches. Some of them turned out so well that I turned them into pieces – like this one.
34: Valerie Savarie: "Dream Time" $180
Book page scraps, acrylic, vintage wall paper, vintage frame, 8" x 10", framed: 13.25" x 15.25"
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
Another dimensional sketch using book page scraps from the past year and a painting from many years ago.
35: Valerie Savarie: "Learning to Fly" $180
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, fishing line, approx. 7" x 9" x 3.5"
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”:
I kept thinking back to a past show based on movies. There was one about owls learning to fly. This song and the movie - Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole seemed like a perfect pairing.
36: Valerie Savarie: "Freyja" $180
Altered book, acryla gouache, fishing line, approx. 7" x 9" x 3.5"
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
In Norse mythology – where Valkyries originated from – ravens are companions of Odin. They traveled to Earth to be his eyes and ears, even tending to warriors who had been slain in battle.
37: Valerie Savarie: "Look Inside Your Heart" $680
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, book page scraps, 6" x 8.625" x 1"
Book used "Faith and My Friends" by Marcus Bach, published 1951
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
One of the biggest challenges I had in creating art for the show, is finding books that paired with the songs. This one had me stumped, when listening to the lyrics, I heard it as love for our fellow human, not a romantic love.
Since I didn’t know what subject of book I was looking for, I hot the thrift stores hard and found this beautiful book (green is my favorite color) and decided this was the one. A story of a man experiencing the many faiths of his friends. His love for his friends was not impacted by them having diverse spiritual beliefs, he saw them each as an individual, not a faceless congregation.
Hatewill not live in peace whereas love thrives in peace. Using the dove as a symbol of peace, it shares its love to all through the various hearts it sets free amongst the clouds.
38: Valerie Savarie: "Kitty’s Day at the Beach" $680
Altered book, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage thread, 5.5" x 8.125" x .875"
Book used "Cape Cod" by Henry David Thoreau, published 1951
Groove Armada “At the River”
Even though the song itself is now 27 years old, I loved the sampling of Patti Page’s “Old Cape Cod” from the 1950’s. The nostalgia was too enticing to resist!
With the book being small, I had to pair down my initial concept. There’s a beach ball being thrown to a cat girl because cats would love the sand dunes – all sorts of critters to play with, grass to hide in, a never ending litter box and for the brave, water to get a fresh fish for lunch. Of course, there is that beach ball to play with as well.
39: Valerie Savarie: "Torn Soul" $680
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, 6.125" x 8.75" x 1.5"
Book used "Fairy Tales from Many Lands", published 1928
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
Sometimes the universe is in alignment with our needs and finding this children’s book with a story about werewolves was one of those times.
The duality of a werewolf is reflected in the colorful cover and the black and white carved insides. If we truly look inside ourselves, we all share this duality of human and beast – it may not be a full moon that triggers our transformation. Drugs, abuse, trauma can each trigger our transformation however that doesn’t mean that the outward “monster” doesn’t have love and compassion for those we hold dear.
40: Valerie Savarie: "What My Eyes Have Seen" $750
Altered book, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage frame, 8.75" x 5.75" x .5", famed: 16.75" x 13" x 1.75"
Book used "How to Hypnotize", by Chambers Stravon, published 1963
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
“have I been blind
have I been lost
inside my self and
my own mind
hypnotized
mesmerized
by what my eyes have seen?”
How often do we allow ourselves to be blindfolded by the external so we don’t have to face the internal? To be swept away in the fantasy of what is currently “the thing” and casting aside what we know is important.
It is so essential so see both sides of ourselves – both light and dark. To look deeply into our own eyes and see the unique future we hold true. Be your own crystal ball and foresee your own future.
41: Valerie Savarie: "Divinity” $680
Altered book, watercolor, acryla gouache, acrylic, 7.25" x 10.125" x .5"
Book used "Ave Maria" by Walt Disney, published 1940
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
I first heard Ave Maria as a young child when I saw Fantasia – one of my all time favorite movies. I was fortunate enough to find a book published from that movie and specifically for Ave Maria. I used the images from the book as inspiration for the composition - the traditional stained glass with heights that reached heaven itself. I knew I wanted to character to mimic the architectural pattern however I was not having much luck. I decided to move forward with the other elements of the piece, including sewing in the publication and creation years on the back. There on the actual front of the book (my back) there was a beautifully embossed Madonna figure, inspiration found and everything fell into place.
42: Valerie Savarie: "Chooser of the Slain” $690
Altered book, acryla gouache, charcoal, metal fasteners, 8.5" x 11.375" x .75"
Book used "The Valkyrie: Vocal Score", by Wagner, published 1904
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
I love classical music, partially because that was the staple growing up, partially because I played violin, cello and bass for over a decade and partially because of the emotional response it elicits.
If I still painted large pieces, there would have been dozens of Valkyries flying around, swooping up the chosen ones and flying back to Valhalla. Due to the limited size of a book, I knew this was not an option.
So rather than focusing on the many, I chose to focus on the one.
A brave and equally tender souled guide to the over world of Valhalla. She is focused, ready to take on all that is brought before her yet equally agile and fluid, adapting as needed.
The thrill of the battle becomes her life force, allowing her to carry on, to guide another soul home before she takes flight again.
43: Valerie Savarie: "Soul Set Free” $720
Altered book, watercolor, acryla gouache, book page scraps, 5.625" x 8" x 1"
Book used "The Substance of a Dream" by FW Bain, published 1919
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
“If you open your mind for me
You won't rely on open eyes to see
The walls you built within come tumbling down
And a new world will begin
Living twice at once, you learn
You're safe from pain in the dream domain
A soul set free to fly
A round trip journey in your head, master of illusion
Can you realize your dream's alive?
You can be the guide, but
I will be watching over you
I am gonna help you see it through
I will protect you in the night
I am smiling next to you”
I had never heard this song until our show. At first listen I knew I needed to print out the lyrics so I could understand what was being sung. After multiple listens and reads, I came up with an idea – the book would have a night door and once open, you would see the dream world.
After completing the door, I realized the piece was too off balance and I hated it – I actually put the piece in a drawer for a week so I didn’t have to look at it. I finally decided that I needed to listen to the song again and find the solution within.
The character is both the soul set free and the guide who watches over. She is the protector of the living dream.
Feeling inspired by the power of words, I used some heart shaped cut-out scraps to create a sort of poem on the cover: Clouds, Tears, Truth, Doors, Desire
44: Valerie Savarie: "Primarily Me” $1200
Altered book, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage thread, metal hinges, 11" x 15" x 1.125"
Book used "NY Times Atlas of the World", published 1983
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
When I first got into Cat Stevens, I was in my late teens early twenties. It was a very volatile time of my life. After a trip to see friends out of state, I decided it was time to leave my home town and start anew several states away.
My mother was heart broken, we were (are) very close and I was the first of three to leave.
For me, this song is more of a self portrait in symbolism. When closed, I created a typical “Mom” tattoo and once opened (her heart broken), there I am, with my suitcase ready to take on the world, in all of it’s wildness, still surrounded by the love of my mother.
45: Valerie Savarie: "The Cure for a Broken Heart” $690
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, acrylic, glow in the dark powder, 5.625" x 8.25" x 1"
Book used "Poe's Masterpieces of Mystery", by Edgar Allan Poe, published 1936
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
I am sure it is no surprise that growing up, I was a huge The Cure fan. The first album I bought of theirs was The Top (and yes, I still have the record). I loved the quirkiness of the song and the violin parts spoke to me specifically as at the time, I played the violin.
I figured the best place to keep a little caterpillar girl who could be bathed with “powder, pink and sweet” would be in a little lantern. Behind the screen there is a glow-in-the-dark moon and stars because I am assuming the caterpillar will become of moth of the night, as all good goths would be.
Choosing a book for the piece, I researched Robert Smith’s literary favorites. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven was top on the list so a collection of his work seemed appropriate.
46: Valerie Savarie: "Luna Luna” $690
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, vintage thread, 8.375" x 11" x 1.5"
Book used "The World in the Air, Vol. 1" by Francis Trevelyan Miller, pub. 1930
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
I already had this book in my stacks – I believe I picked it up from my elements show at Valkarie back in 2017.
Filled with all sorts of incredible images, I felt guilty only using them for value and not for their symbolism. I got to a point in cutting where a beautiful face appeared – the first English woman to take to the skies in a hot air balloon – Letitia Ann Sage.
As I hadn’t decided on a character yet for the piece, I set the book aside to allow myself time to mull over if the face should be kept or removed. It didn’t take long to decide she needed to become a moon. With that decision, I knew that I wanted to create a flying night creature and a luna moth seemed the perfect fit.
This luna moth, however, is also a fairy, having just emerged from her cocoon and taking her first flight by the light of a beautiful full moon.
47: Valerie Savarie: "Pure & Sweet” $700
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, vintage thread, 5.5" x 8.5" x 1"
Book used "The Pollinators of Eden", by John Boyd, published 1969
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
I ordered the book for this piece off eBay, which is not that rare when I am needing something specific. There lyrics “Our hearts are free, So tell me what's wrong with the feeling, I'm a flower, you're the bee” set in motion my vision for the piece. Finding The Pollinators of Eden seemed like a match made in heaven! Once I received the book and started reading parts of it, I discovered it was really an erotic sci-fi novel which made it even better!
48: Valerie Savarie: "Celestial Siren” $880
Altered book, watercolor, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage thread, 5.5" x 8.25" x 1.25"
Book used "Life on Other Worlds" by H Spencer Jones, published 1940
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”
As mentioned earlier, I played the violin for over a decade and grew up listening to classical music. Holst’s The Planets has always been a favorite for as long as I can remember. I would have my mom put on the record and I would run around the house (to Mars) and eventually hide behind a chair – I thought it was The Planet of the Apes and I needed to find a place to hide from them.
My first flight as a teen was to Europe. I was extremely nervous as I was prone to motion sickness so I made a mixed tape of of classical music. I did indeed get very sick and ended up being drugged up from NYC to Rome. At some point while drifting in and out of consciousness, Neptune was playing and I remember wondering if I was really awake, if all of this was happening or if it was a dream.
Fast forward to preparing for the show, I knew I had to select this song. For me, the oceans and the celestial realm are intertwined. Both vast, full of mystery and will most likely never be fully explored.
Tying the planet Neptune back to the Roman god of the sea, it only made sense to have a mermaid in the piece as well as the planet. Then the real artistry needed to take place, what would be the overall visual, the cut out, various visual symbols?
Going back to the music and the mythology, both used harps. The music gave me the calm feeling of waves gently flowing over me, tying back into the god Neptune. And so the piece was born.
ARTIST S SHOW STATEMENTS
Written words fuel my artistic visions, generally from the stories inside books. Lyrics are, in essence, poems put to music; however, not all music has lyrics. I decided I should push myself to select songs that speak to me on a different level – where I needed to get in touch with how the music made me feel and what images materialized from those feelings.
Taking this step into the unknown, I did my best to feel all the music selected before truly listening to (and reading) the lyrics (if the music had them). With this new approach to inspiration, I found myself connecting more to music that I did not choose.
“Silent Lucidity” by Queensrÿche painted such a profound image in my mind and heart. It encompasses life in waking and dreaming, living and dying, and connecting with our most authentic selves and those we hold dear. It allows us to experience our emotions while being held and protected by a proverbial mother of life.
- Valerie Savarie, altered book artist.
Is it the lyrics or the tune? What moves you?” Thinking it was certainly one or the other, I continuously proved myself wrong. This was a deep exercise: designing and painting while listening to a playlist of 12 gorgeous songs (four for each participant) on Repeat.
This is an intense time in my life. I am physically and emotionally present with my Mom, who is stepping out with late-stage Alzheimer’s. Thus, many of my pieces come from a place of transition and transcendence….and others, I got lost in what I perceived was the sender’s message. That’s just it. Is the end product of the artist intended or perceived?
Both !! Right?
I was always enthralled by looking up lyrics and discovering new meanings in music I’d “heard” but not “heard.”
Initially researching Holst's “The Planets,” I leaned into a Neptune mythology interpretation, but then I just Listened… and it struck me as the soundtrack of a soul entering Valhalla!
Thus, inspired Going Home. - Miki Harder, painter
I used the song titles and lyrics as a starting point of my creative practice. These words, mixed with my life experiences, were used to create pieces that are both reflections and reactions to music.
While sculpting, I listened to the songs repeatedly, further influencing the pieces. “Mama Werewolf” by Brandi Carlile became a self-portrait, symbolic of my relationship with her daughter. "Learning to Fly" by Pink Floyd inspired a piece about the journey of self-discovery after my children left home. - Penney Bidwell, sculptor
Valerie Savarie . Miki Harder . Penney Bidwell
Music plays a vital role in our lives—we use it to celebrate, grieve, meditate, and move our bodies in a way that we can not control. It stirs up memories from the past, moves us to tears, makes us want to jump for joy, and connects us to a greater consciousness.
In “Do You See What I Hear?” Valerie Savarie, Miki Harder, and Penney Bidwell explore creating artwork based on twelve songs – each artist selecting four. How do these artists interpret the songs similarly, and how do they differ? Explore the culmination of seven months of experiences and pondering translated into clay, paper, and canvas.
Valerie’s picks:
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
Groove Armada “At the River”
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
Miki’s picks:
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
Penney’s picks:
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
1: Miki Harder: “Gates of Valhalla” $600
Oil and canvas 15" x 30"
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
Female warriors in service to Odin, chose which warriors go to Valhalla after dying in battle. They were often depicted on horseback but this goddess chooses to hang with her Raven clan. I absolutely LOVED painting this. My Momma was a warrior in her own right and I’m certain this Valkyrie scooped her right up.
2: Miki Harder: "Silent Lucidity" $600
Oil on canvas, 24" X 12",
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
This song makes me cry Every time. The lyrics say “… I will be watching over you ~ gonna help you see it through ~I will protect you in the night ~I’m smiling next to you” My Mom always had my back, and I hers. I feel we were (are) the same person…. And me in this life, with more resources to work thru classic generational trauma …I almost feel a duty to put an end to some old ~before me ~crap thought patterns … but even tho she’s “gone” I still feel her smiling next to me.
3: Miki Harder: "Going Home" $400
Oil on Panel, 20" x10"
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
The title “Going Home “was originally given to my Valhalla piece.. but then found more meaning in Cat Stevens “Wild World” in a Leaving theme….. my version of going home lay more in the realm of end of life than venturing out into the world.
4: Miki Harder: "Earthbound Misfit" $1275
Oil on canvas, 24"x48"
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
I have wanted to try painting a rendition of this song for ages. For me, each part of it is rich with imagery. The line; “across the clouds I see my shadow fly, out of the corner of my watering eye”… it’s like I can FEEL it, hear it and see it …
5: Miki Harder: “Ave Maria" $575
Oil on panel, 20” x 16”
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
My Grandma Marie was a voice trained opera singer; which is amazing unless you are an 8 year old kid standing next to her in church when she’s belting out Amazing Grace . Mostly mortified back then, I can now appreciate her talent. When she died, a friend (trained voice) sang Ave Maria….not a dry eye in the room. When My mom died, Dad and I sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her…no dry eyes there either.
6: Miki Harder: “Momma Wolf" $300
Oil on clay board, 11" X 14”
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
This song struck me as such a deep nod to generational trauma..and confounded at how express that, my instinct was to “go to the animals” for answers. The relationship betwixt Wolves and Ravens felt like a relatively good fit, if not in theme, at least in form.
7: Miki Harder: "Carnival” $275
Oil on panel, 6" X 12"
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
I can say with certainty, I listened to our sound track 50 or more times. Music, lyrics and meanings eventually flowed into one another. THUS, my juggling jester, perched on a perfect white Percheron (insert heart emoji) blended with Neptune and Saturn from Gustav Holst’s “the Planets” AND “Carnival” by Natalie Merchant.
8: Miki Harder: "Pre Moth" $175
Oil on panel, 6" x 8"
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
Is she in love with the caterpillar ~ or gonna eat the caterpillar?
9: Miki Harder: "Soul of Dragonfly" $425
Oil on panel, 9"x12"
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
When my Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, we watched her personality change, and her mind slowly morph, then ultimately it forgot all the things it takes to keep a body alive. Tho I learned to be in love with “whomever Mom was “each day.. I missed and began to forget “who” she “was”. I grappled with WHERE her mind went…. I mean I know clinically... but spiritually, where did it go?
Driving back and forth to Colorado Springs from Durango every month I noticed more and more Kestrels lurking on the power lines. I chose to imbue the Kestrel with the original spirit of my Mom’s mind, till she could be relieved of her diminishing body. Higher Love baby.
10: Miki Harder: "True Love" $600
Oil on canvas, 30" x 15"
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
Every spring, the Ravens at the Nordic center where I work pair up and just get insanely cute with each other. They preen each other, stare in to each other’s eyes and make a great display of their affection for one other. Ravens mate for life so this is some real True Love in action.
11: Miki Harder: "As a Matter of Fact ..." $300
Oil on panel, 15" x 9"
Groove Armada “At the River”
“As a matter of fact I AM fond of sand dunes and salty air!” Said the little shore bird.
A specific image for this song took its time to present itself. The lyrics repeat “..if you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air…” I was scrolling thru pictures I’d taken and came across a trip last year to the beach. I took a jillion pictures of these plump lil’ Wilson’s Plovers, then I thought ... Well yes, THEY absolutely love salty air and sand dunes!
12: Miki Harder: “Neptune" $175
Oil on panel, 7"x 5"
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”
A Big BLUE planet…it’s an ice giant…the 8Th and furthest planet from the sun. .The thought of a cosmic breach, an escape from the confines of a cold place…sounded divine.
13: Penney Bidwell: "Nocturnal Reverie" $595 Ceramic & pure gold luster, 15" x 9" x6"
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
“It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
Commanding in another world
Suddenly you hear and see this magic new dimension”
This song made me think about dreams and nightmares and the power to alter them through lucid dreaming. Beetles represent the power of transformation.
14: Penney Bidwell: "Beetle 1" $25
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 4" 2" x 1"
15: Penney Bidwell: "Beetle 2" $25
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 4" 2" x 1"
16: Penney Bidwell: "Beetle 3" $30
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 5" x 2.5" x 1"
17: Penney Bidwell: "Scarab 2" $20
Ceramic & pure gold luster, 2" x 1" x 1"
18: Penney Bidwell: "Elegy" $1500
Ceramic, 16" x 10" x 7"
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
“You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two
Because I never want to see you sad, girl
Don't be a bad girl
But if you want to leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware”
This piece is a portrait of my brother. He struggled with his own demons and coped with an addiction that eventually took his life. His wife created a memorial video and chose to use this song much of the video consisted of happier times from his childhood. Sculpting this piece I remembered him as a fun and playful child and symbolized this with the newspaper hat. The coat with the tarnished buttons is a nod to his short time in the navy.
19: Penney Bidwell: "Celestial Tabernacle" $1500
With antique plinth $1700
Ceramic 14" x 11" x 10”
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”: This music felt very magical and ethereal. I thought about a woman who embodies the allure of the universe and so I sculpted her with constellation tattoos and stars in her hair. She has Neptune tattooed on her neck.
20: Penney Bidwell: “Honey" $1125
Ceramic, 15" x 10" x 6"
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
“So tell me what's wrong with the feeling
I'm a flower, you're my bee”
I love the happy vibes of this song. Flowers and bees are motifs that appear often in my work. I sculpted a lady in a honeycomb dress, covered in flowers. She proudly wears her sacred heart tattoo on her chest.
21: Penney Bidwell: "Mourning" $295
Ceramic, 10" x 7" x 5"
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
“Nunc et in hora mortis
Now and in the hour of death”
While in Mexico for Semana Santa, I heard Ave Maria sung by local choral groups. I witnessed a group of women in a parade wearing black lace mantillas. They each carried a candle that gave their face a strange orange glow. There was such beauty in their sadness and devotion that I tried to convey in this piece.
22: Penney Bidwell: "Tapestry of Souls" $560
Ceramic, antique thread, 9" x 10" x 5"
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
“A yearning, and it's real to me
There must be someone who's feeling for me”
The title of this song made me think about the ultimate love or connection. This piece depicts a male and female figure with hearts that are connected by several threads. On one level this can be interpreted as lovers or soul mates. From a Jungian perspective it can be interpreted as an integration of the Anima and Animus---the female and male archetypes that reside in all of us.
23: Penney Bidwell: “Collecting Memories”: $375
Ceramic, handwoven yarn, 15" x 5" x 3"
Groove Armada “At the River”
“If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air
Quaint little villages here and there”
I wasn’t familiar with this song and did a little research. I learned that the lyrics came from an older piece of music referencing Cape Cod. I was reminded of spending summers on Cape Cod with my grandmother where mermaid imagery caught my imagination since childhood. I sculpted this mermaid with a hand-knotted net that holds skulls of those who have passed away including my grandmother.
24: Penney Bidwell: "Finding Wings" $375
Ceramic, 14" x 12" x 4 "
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
“A soul in tension that's learning to fly”
Recently I became an empty nester. A friend sent me a poem called “Empty Nest” by Donna Ashworth. There is a stanza of this poem that reads:
My nest is as it should be now, empty.
But I will not be empty little one.
I will fly, just like you, find my new place in this story.
This piece is about sprouting my own wings and learning to fly. My symbolic self is holding an egg for a new birth and a reminder of the past.
25: Penney Bidwell: "Becoming" $375
Ceramic, 13” x 4 x" 3"
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
“Oh, I'll dust my lemon lies
With powder, pink and sweet
The day I stop is the day you change
And fly away from me”
I took inspiration for this piece directly from the title. This caterpillar lady has a butterfly in her hair, a nod to her future. Caterpillars are symbolic of change.
26: Penney Bidwell: "Behind the Mask" $1425
With antique plinth $1625
Ceramic, ribbon, 19" x 10" x 8
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
“If my good intentions go running wild
If I cause you pain, my own sweet child
Won't you promise me you'll be the one
My silver bullet in the gun”
The lyrics in this song made me think about my relationship with my daughter. Our relationship is filled with love but it is not without inadvertent pain on both of our parts. Working on this sculpture was a chance for me to work through complex feelings.
27 – 31: Penney Bidwell: "A Cauldron of Bats” $275 each
Ceramic, 5" x 15" x 3"
27: Gretchen
28: Greta
29: Brunhilde
30: Freya
31: Agnes
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
“Die armen Tiere ächzen vor Angst;
The wretched beasts are groaning with fear”
Instead of women riding on winged horses, I was inspired by women with bat wings. Bats are a symbol of darkness and strength. The music carries such power and strength that I chose to create a cauldron of female bats in flight.
32: Penney Bidwell, "Butterfly" $1550
Ceramic, steel, antique plinth, 32" x 18" x 12"
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
“In a carnival, of sights to see
All the cheap thrill seekers vendors and the dealers
They crowded around me”
This song makes me think about my family of carnies. My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all on the traveling carnival. They had varied roles: dancers, train master, ride and concession owners, talker and side show performer. This piece is about my great-grandmother whom I never met, Viola Simpson, the tattooed lady who danced under the name “Little Butterfly.”
33: Valerie Savarie: "Mesmerized" $125
Book page & cover scraps, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage wall paper, vintage frame, 6" x 4", famed: 11.25" x 9.25"
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
When I started working out concepts for the pieces for this show, I played around using book scraps and rejected paintings to form dimensional sketches. Some of them turned out so well that I turned them into pieces – like this one.
34: Valerie Savarie: "Dream Time" $180
Book page scraps, acrylic, vintage wall paper, vintage frame, 8" x 10", framed: 13.25" x 15.25"
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
Another dimensional sketch using book page scraps from the past year and a painting from many years ago.
35: Valerie Savarie: "Learning to Fly" $180
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, fishing line, approx. 7" x 9" x 3.5"
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”:
I kept thinking back to a past show based on movies. There was one about owls learning to fly. This song and the movie - Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole seemed like a perfect pairing.
36: Valerie Savarie: "Freyja" $180
Altered book, acryla gouache, fishing line, approx. 7" x 9" x 3.5"
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
In Norse mythology – where Valkyries originated from – ravens are companions of Odin. They traveled to Earth to be his eyes and ears, even tending to warriors who had been slain in battle.
37: Valerie Savarie: "Look Inside Your Heart" $680
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, book page scraps, 6" x 8.625" x 1"
Book used "Faith and My Friends" by Marcus Bach, published 1951
Steve Winwood “Higher Love”
One of the biggest challenges I had in creating art for the show, is finding books that paired with the songs. This one had me stumped, when listening to the lyrics, I heard it as love for our fellow human, not a romantic love.
Since I didn’t know what subject of book I was looking for, I hot the thrift stores hard and found this beautiful book (green is my favorite color) and decided this was the one. A story of a man experiencing the many faiths of his friends. His love for his friends was not impacted by them having diverse spiritual beliefs, he saw them each as an individual, not a faceless congregation.
Hatewill not live in peace whereas love thrives in peace. Using the dove as a symbol of peace, it shares its love to all through the various hearts it sets free amongst the clouds.
38: Valerie Savarie: "Kitty’s Day at the Beach" $680
Altered book, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage thread, 5.5" x 8.125" x .875"
Book used "Cape Cod" by Henry David Thoreau, published 1951
Groove Armada “At the River”
Even though the song itself is now 27 years old, I loved the sampling of Patti Page’s “Old Cape Cod” from the 1950’s. The nostalgia was too enticing to resist!
With the book being small, I had to pair down my initial concept. There’s a beach ball being thrown to a cat girl because cats would love the sand dunes – all sorts of critters to play with, grass to hide in, a never ending litter box and for the brave, water to get a fresh fish for lunch. Of course, there is that beach ball to play with as well.
39: Valerie Savarie: "Torn Soul" $680
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, 6.125" x 8.75" x 1.5"
Book used "Fairy Tales from Many Lands", published 1928
Brandi Carlile “Mama Werewolf”
Sometimes the universe is in alignment with our needs and finding this children’s book with a story about werewolves was one of those times.
The duality of a werewolf is reflected in the colorful cover and the black and white carved insides. If we truly look inside ourselves, we all share this duality of human and beast – it may not be a full moon that triggers our transformation. Drugs, abuse, trauma can each trigger our transformation however that doesn’t mean that the outward “monster” doesn’t have love and compassion for those we hold dear.
40: Valerie Savarie: "What My Eyes Have Seen" $750
Altered book, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage frame, 8.75" x 5.75" x .5", famed: 16.75" x 13" x 1.75"
Book used "How to Hypnotize", by Chambers Stravon, published 1963
Natalie Merchant “Carnival”
“have I been blind
have I been lost
inside my self and
my own mind
hypnotized
mesmerized
by what my eyes have seen?”
How often do we allow ourselves to be blindfolded by the external so we don’t have to face the internal? To be swept away in the fantasy of what is currently “the thing” and casting aside what we know is important.
It is so essential so see both sides of ourselves – both light and dark. To look deeply into our own eyes and see the unique future we hold true. Be your own crystal ball and foresee your own future.
41: Valerie Savarie: "Divinity” $680
Altered book, watercolor, acryla gouache, acrylic, 7.25" x 10.125" x .5"
Book used "Ave Maria" by Walt Disney, published 1940
Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”
I first heard Ave Maria as a young child when I saw Fantasia – one of my all time favorite movies. I was fortunate enough to find a book published from that movie and specifically for Ave Maria. I used the images from the book as inspiration for the composition - the traditional stained glass with heights that reached heaven itself. I knew I wanted to character to mimic the architectural pattern however I was not having much luck. I decided to move forward with the other elements of the piece, including sewing in the publication and creation years on the back. There on the actual front of the book (my back) there was a beautifully embossed Madonna figure, inspiration found and everything fell into place.
42: Valerie Savarie: "Chooser of the Slain” $690
Altered book, acryla gouache, charcoal, metal fasteners, 8.5" x 11.375" x .75"
Book used "The Valkyrie: Vocal Score", by Wagner, published 1904
Richard Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”
I love classical music, partially because that was the staple growing up, partially because I played violin, cello and bass for over a decade and partially because of the emotional response it elicits.
If I still painted large pieces, there would have been dozens of Valkyries flying around, swooping up the chosen ones and flying back to Valhalla. Due to the limited size of a book, I knew this was not an option.
So rather than focusing on the many, I chose to focus on the one.
A brave and equally tender souled guide to the over world of Valhalla. She is focused, ready to take on all that is brought before her yet equally agile and fluid, adapting as needed.
The thrill of the battle becomes her life force, allowing her to carry on, to guide another soul home before she takes flight again.
43: Valerie Savarie: "Soul Set Free” $720
Altered book, watercolor, acryla gouache, book page scraps, 5.625" x 8" x 1"
Book used "The Substance of a Dream" by FW Bain, published 1919
Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity”
“If you open your mind for me
You won't rely on open eyes to see
The walls you built within come tumbling down
And a new world will begin
Living twice at once, you learn
You're safe from pain in the dream domain
A soul set free to fly
A round trip journey in your head, master of illusion
Can you realize your dream's alive?
You can be the guide, but
I will be watching over you
I am gonna help you see it through
I will protect you in the night
I am smiling next to you”
I had never heard this song until our show. At first listen I knew I needed to print out the lyrics so I could understand what was being sung. After multiple listens and reads, I came up with an idea – the book would have a night door and once open, you would see the dream world.
After completing the door, I realized the piece was too off balance and I hated it – I actually put the piece in a drawer for a week so I didn’t have to look at it. I finally decided that I needed to listen to the song again and find the solution within.
The character is both the soul set free and the guide who watches over. She is the protector of the living dream.
Feeling inspired by the power of words, I used some heart shaped cut-out scraps to create a sort of poem on the cover: Clouds, Tears, Truth, Doors, Desire
44: Valerie Savarie: "Primarily Me” $1200
Altered book, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage thread, metal hinges, 11" x 15" x 1.125"
Book used "NY Times Atlas of the World", published 1983
Cat Stevens “Wild World”
When I first got into Cat Stevens, I was in my late teens early twenties. It was a very volatile time of my life. After a trip to see friends out of state, I decided it was time to leave my home town and start anew several states away.
My mother was heart broken, we were (are) very close and I was the first of three to leave.
For me, this song is more of a self portrait in symbolism. When closed, I created a typical “Mom” tattoo and once opened (her heart broken), there I am, with my suitcase ready to take on the world, in all of it’s wildness, still surrounded by the love of my mother.
45: Valerie Savarie: "The Cure for a Broken Heart” $690
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, acrylic, glow in the dark powder, 5.625" x 8.25" x 1"
Book used "Poe's Masterpieces of Mystery", by Edgar Allan Poe, published 1936
The Cure “The Caterpillar”
I am sure it is no surprise that growing up, I was a huge The Cure fan. The first album I bought of theirs was The Top (and yes, I still have the record). I loved the quirkiness of the song and the violin parts spoke to me specifically as at the time, I played the violin.
I figured the best place to keep a little caterpillar girl who could be bathed with “powder, pink and sweet” would be in a little lantern. Behind the screen there is a glow-in-the-dark moon and stars because I am assuming the caterpillar will become of moth of the night, as all good goths would be.
Choosing a book for the piece, I researched Robert Smith’s literary favorites. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven was top on the list so a collection of his work seemed appropriate.
46: Valerie Savarie: "Luna Luna” $690
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, vintage thread, 8.375" x 11" x 1.5"
Book used "The World in the Air, Vol. 1" by Francis Trevelyan Miller, pub. 1930
Pink Floyd “Learning to Fly”
I already had this book in my stacks – I believe I picked it up from my elements show at Valkarie back in 2017.
Filled with all sorts of incredible images, I felt guilty only using them for value and not for their symbolism. I got to a point in cutting where a beautiful face appeared – the first English woman to take to the skies in a hot air balloon – Letitia Ann Sage.
As I hadn’t decided on a character yet for the piece, I set the book aside to allow myself time to mull over if the face should be kept or removed. It didn’t take long to decide she needed to become a moon. With that decision, I knew that I wanted to create a flying night creature and a luna moth seemed the perfect fit.
This luna moth, however, is also a fairy, having just emerged from her cocoon and taking her first flight by the light of a beautiful full moon.
47: Valerie Savarie: "Pure & Sweet” $700
Altered book, acryla gouache, watercolor, vintage thread, 5.5" x 8.5" x 1"
Book used "The Pollinators of Eden", by John Boyd, published 1969
Father John Misty “Real Love Baby”
I ordered the book for this piece off eBay, which is not that rare when I am needing something specific. There lyrics “Our hearts are free, So tell me what's wrong with the feeling, I'm a flower, you're the bee” set in motion my vision for the piece. Finding The Pollinators of Eden seemed like a match made in heaven! Once I received the book and started reading parts of it, I discovered it was really an erotic sci-fi novel which made it even better!
48: Valerie Savarie: "Celestial Siren” $880
Altered book, watercolor, acryla gouache, acrylic, vintage thread, 5.5" x 8.25" x 1.25"
Book used "Life on Other Worlds" by H Spencer Jones, published 1940
Gustav Holst “The Planets, OP 32: Neptune”
As mentioned earlier, I played the violin for over a decade and grew up listening to classical music. Holst’s The Planets has always been a favorite for as long as I can remember. I would have my mom put on the record and I would run around the house (to Mars) and eventually hide behind a chair – I thought it was The Planet of the Apes and I needed to find a place to hide from them.
My first flight as a teen was to Europe. I was extremely nervous as I was prone to motion sickness so I made a mixed tape of of classical music. I did indeed get very sick and ended up being drugged up from NYC to Rome. At some point while drifting in and out of consciousness, Neptune was playing and I remember wondering if I was really awake, if all of this was happening or if it was a dream.
Fast forward to preparing for the show, I knew I had to select this song. For me, the oceans and the celestial realm are intertwined. Both vast, full of mystery and will most likely never be fully explored.
Tying the planet Neptune back to the Roman god of the sea, it only made sense to have a mermaid in the piece as well as the planet. Then the real artistry needed to take place, what would be the overall visual, the cut out, various visual symbols?
Going back to the music and the mythology, both used harps. The music gave me the calm feeling of waves gently flowing over me, tying back into the god Neptune. And so the piece was born.
ARTIST S SHOW STATEMENTS
Written words fuel my artistic visions, generally from the stories inside books. Lyrics are, in essence, poems put to music; however, not all music has lyrics. I decided I should push myself to select songs that speak to me on a different level – where I needed to get in touch with how the music made me feel and what images materialized from those feelings.
Taking this step into the unknown, I did my best to feel all the music selected before truly listening to (and reading) the lyrics (if the music had them). With this new approach to inspiration, I found myself connecting more to music that I did not choose.
“Silent Lucidity” by Queensrÿche painted such a profound image in my mind and heart. It encompasses life in waking and dreaming, living and dying, and connecting with our most authentic selves and those we hold dear. It allows us to experience our emotions while being held and protected by a proverbial mother of life.
- Valerie Savarie, altered book artist.
Is it the lyrics or the tune? What moves you?” Thinking it was certainly one or the other, I continuously proved myself wrong. This was a deep exercise: designing and painting while listening to a playlist of 12 gorgeous songs (four for each participant) on Repeat.
This is an intense time in my life. I am physically and emotionally present with my Mom, who is stepping out with late-stage Alzheimer’s. Thus, many of my pieces come from a place of transition and transcendence….and others, I got lost in what I perceived was the sender’s message. That’s just it. Is the end product of the artist intended or perceived?
Both !! Right?
I was always enthralled by looking up lyrics and discovering new meanings in music I’d “heard” but not “heard.”
Initially researching Holst's “The Planets,” I leaned into a Neptune mythology interpretation, but then I just Listened… and it struck me as the soundtrack of a soul entering Valhalla!
Thus, inspired Going Home. - Miki Harder, painter
I used the song titles and lyrics as a starting point of my creative practice. These words, mixed with my life experiences, were used to create pieces that are both reflections and reactions to music.
While sculpting, I listened to the songs repeatedly, further influencing the pieces. “Mama Werewolf” by Brandi Carlile became a self-portrait, symbolic of my relationship with her daughter. "Learning to Fly" by Pink Floyd inspired a piece about the journey of self-discovery after my children left home. - Penney Bidwell, sculptor