Sensual

In the summer of two-thousand six, I saw a detail of the painting, Flock, by the contemporary Norwegian painter, Odd Nerdrum, featured on the cover of Image, a journal of art, faith, mystery, published by The Center for Religious Humanism at Seattle Pacific University. The sight was arresting and memorable.

A cluster of naked male figures, crowned with thorns and wearing startled faces occupy a stark russet and black landscape. Several of the figures wear mantles, animal skins tossed loosely over their shoulders and draped down their backs. Inside the journal, Matthew Ballou, in his essay, Second Horizon The Changing Vision of Odd Nerdrum, cites the artist’s use of the mantle as one indicator that Nerdrum is developing a more spiritual and hopeful world view.

I’ve been thinking about Nerdrum’s work again since I attended the Senior Dance Concert at St. Olaf College in December.  The performance choreographed by Meg Kirchhoff and titled, Seek, reminded me of a Nerdrum painting.

Kirchhoff’s work began in the dark and in silence; it took on form and sound slowly. The simple white clothing of the dancers, reminiscent of Nerdrum. The performers reflected a Nerdrum-like pink cast.  A seeker is, by definition, looking for something.  Lack, if not loss, is implied.

Kirchhoff relied heavily on the words, alone together, in her written description of purpose. According to Ballou, “Throughout most of Nerdrum’s career, critics have found in his work a sense of alienation, futility, and loss…”

I was right to remember Odd Nerdrum while watching Kirchoff’s work.  I was happy to be so effectively reminded of one visual artist by another, working in what I would have considered to be a completely different genre.

 

Expression Beyond Language

I’m still thinking about the Senior Dance Concert at St. Olaf College last month. According to the Department of Dance mission statement included in the program, dance is, a vital form of embodied awareness and understanding, communication and expression. The performance titled, what words can/not, indicates language, as a form of communication, has its limitations. The senior dance students are implying that they can in some way communicate more effectively than by spoken language. Yet, we were provided with a written program, inside which each performance was identified by its title, and accompanied by a written description of intent.

In Seek, the choreographer Meg Kirchhoff works from the core thought, alone together, as stated in the program. For Julie Moser-Hardy in Body as…, our bodies are the vehicle through which we see the world, also stated in the program. In One Fell Off and Bumped Her Head, the choreographer, Ashley R T Yergens clearly expresses anxiety that cannot be assuaged, regardless of attempts made by others. Moriah McFarland, dances a Psalm choreographed by Sarah Steichen.  Hope follows struggle, and strength comes from God.

In the words written by The Reverend Thomas Troeger for the hymn, Praise the Source of Faith and Learning, the full scope of truth and understanding lies only with God, and beyond our human grasp. The words fulfill the Christian understanding, and that human shortcoming applies to both science and art.

I would not like to try to dance my husband the grocery list, should he offer to do the shopping. But, it doesn’t take much time or life to realize that as much miscommunication as true communication passes between people when we speak or write, and don’t get me started on email. Language has its limitations, certainly.

Vitality is a synonym for life. Life requires heart. The St. Olaf Senior Dance Concert was full of heart. I would have understood much of what was being expressed without the program.

St. Olaf College — Dance Concert Dance Concert. “What Words Can / Not“. Senior Dance Students Wednesday, December 11, 2013. Kelsey Theater. Concert Program … http://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=1023

Hello

I love art galleries; I love art shows. I love to look at paintings; I like to think about painters. I like to paint. I like to read and to think about writers. I spend a lot of time thinking and writing about what I see, what I understand, and what I don’t understand about the world. I have a lot to say, and I have developed a small community where I can express myself publicly.  But, like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail, I have, the desire for more.

You can begin looking for something new here on Tuesdays, beginning next week on January 21, 2014. I never would have thought my first subject would begin with dance (more to come about Tap Dancing Hell). But, I keep thinking about last month’s Senior Dance Concert at Saint Olaf College, the intriguing performances and the thought provoking title, what words can/not.

Until Tuesday,