The Story of Braided Lives: A Collaboration Between Artists and Poets
What would happen if we brought together celebrated artists of the West and Southwest and talented poets from throughout the United States?
What would happen if we asked each of the poets to respond to, rather than interpret, a specific artwork selected by the artist, in such genres as portraiture, collage, abstraction, landscape, photography, sculpture, sacred art, etching, and print?
What would happen if for one evening, in one of the most perfect places in the world to inaugurate this collaboration—Taos, New Mexico—we put aside thoughts of conflict, terrorism, and fear and simply came together to celebrate the Humanities? To celebrate the wonderwork of being human.
And so, in only eight short months, Braided Lives was born, a remarkably short gestation. Almost every artist and poet we asked to be in the first show, sponsored by the Taos Institute of Arts, answered “yes”, without hesitation. Indeed, poets from as close as Colorado and Arizona and as far away as Virginia and Hawai’i told us, “I would be honored to participate!”
And Braided Lives: Taos truly was a magical evening of art, poetry, music, and dramatic performance, celebrating numerous cultures and talents.
And then, one year later, at the International Women’s Writing Guild meeting, in Santa Cruz, California, I was lucky enough to meet two talented women— Anne Bishop and Rachel de Baere—who were excited about the concept of the show. Was Braided Lives was destined to take on a different persona? Could it happen across all those miles?
Yes, absolutely. Through the sponsorship of the Taos Chamber of Commerce, Braided Lives traveled to SomArts Cultural Center, in San Francisco, a fabulous city that truly values the Arts in all forms. SomArts fostered and nurtured Braided Lives in countless ways.
One year in the planning, through the efforts of 31 artists and writers who did not at first know one another, but came to be colleagues and friends, Braided Lives: San Francisco welcomed audiences for two shows. If you truly believe that different genres within the Humanities can and do communicate with each other, then you surely must understand the joy and magic inherent in Braided Lives.In the spring of 2006, Braided Lives was hosted by the Tennyson Gallery, in Denver, where it played to a Standing Room Only audience. As part of back to back shows within one week, and to open the Taos Spring Arts Festival, we were thrilled to return to our origin, where Judith Rane and her son, Omar, welcomed Braided Lives and celebrated our spirit at RANE Gallery. All of us who participated will never forget the heartwarming reception by the Taos audience.
In October, 2006, Braided Lives traveled to Studio Rasa and Berkeley Fine Art Studio, of Berkeley, California, in conjunction with SomArts Cultural Center, of San Francisco, with 12 artists and 12 poets. In a new incarnation of the event, artists were asked to select a poem of their choice, submitted by award-winning poets, in order to create a new work of art in their personal style. Poets were delighted to see their poetry come to life in new ways, and both poets and artists discussed their work and answered questions from the audience.
Currently requested Braided Lives shows:
Colorado Springs, CO, 2007
Berkeley, CA, 2007
Lincoln, NE, 2008
Andrea L. Watson
Seamus Berkeley
Co-Founders, Braided Lives:
A Collaboration Between Artists and Poets