Call to artists

The Ekphrasis Project

Presents
Shadow

Teams of four artists, working in multiple genres, meet and explore the motif of Shadow. Poets and writers join with painters, sculptors, musicians, weavers, photographers, actors, dancers, singers, jugglers, and high wire acts for a synergy of exceptional work. Performance will be in Taos.

Nothing is probable.

Anything is possible!

If you would like to be part of a team or organize a team, send me a brief artistic bio and photo of you, your work or how you wish to be represented to be posted on this sight for folks wishing to organize a team can view and contact you. For any other info contact taosart@gmail.com

Inanna put to rest

For the time being, we have put Inanna to rest and have moved on to other thoughts and ideas.

FYI

I found this book on the internet. It sounded intriguing, so I ordered it. I have no opinion yet, since I haven't yet received the book. However, because the subject is the descent of Inanna, I wanted to share it with our group. Sylvia Brinton Perera is a Jungian analyst. It lists for $25, but I found a copy for $6.oo on www.abebooks.com.

Descent to the Goddess: A Way of Initiation for WomenSylvia Brinton Perera (New York)
ISBN 0-919123-05-8. Index. 112 pp. 1981. Pioneer study of the need for an inner female authority in a masculine- oriented society. Interprets the journey into the underworld of Inanna-Ishtar, Goddess of Heaven and Earth, to see Ereshkigal, her dark sister. So must modern women descend into the depths of themselves.

Happy Mother's Day to all of us...

Karen

Hello to everyone. I like this blog.

I purchased two "Inanna" books: 1) "Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth" by Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer and 2) "Innana: From the Myths of Ancient Sumer" by Kim Echlin. The latter is written simply, rather like a children's poem. I read it first and I could then quickly follow the story of Inanna before I began the more erudite Wolkstein/Kramer version. I also found a wonderful sculptural piece of jewelry called "Astarte" by the Arroyo Seco artist, Claire Haye. I will wear it to our performance.When I asked myself today, "What do I think of Inanna?" another question immediately emerged as my initial response, "What would it mean to be a woman without fear? I ask this question both as an individual woman, and on behalf of all women.I have not seen Carol's poem. Would someone send a copy to me at kscordova@aol.comSamuel Noah Kramer also wrote a wonderful book that I believe is called "History Began at Sumer."

Kind thoughts to all....Karen

First-time blog to the "First"

Hi Everyone-I've been remembering of all you wonderful poets since last Fall at the Rane Gallery show and reading. I'm the potter/poet from Cedar Crest, NM. I've been wondering what the results of the survey that you sent out showed about everyone's ideas about first poems and Inana; I've been reading the Wolkenstein book. Also reading some other research about Enheduanna, first recorded woman poet of 2300BC and her poems in praise of Inana. Also read 1000 SPLENDID SUNS. What an amazing book. It is extraordinary that in just a few thousand years, women can go from priestesses to a beloved goddess to slaves without civil rights in a male dominated politico-religious culture, all in the same geography.

Thinking about ideas on language and art. Looking into cuneiform and, since I'm a potter, clay tablets. We would not know about Enheduanna if not for these.

Scanned a book by Lucien Polestron called BOOKS ON FIRE about lost libraries through time. He writes about the first Englishmen to find the ruin of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal's library at Nineveh. The library had been purported to be 7 stories of clay and stone tablets, the collected writings of that time. All 7 stories had collapsed down into one large pile of rubble. The excited Englishmen walked over the "rubble" smashing tablets into dust in their zeal to reach a wall of friezes-the recognizable art work. They thought the clay and stone tablets were floor tiles and did not recognize the cuneiform designs as language or the tablets as books. I wonder what other "first things" may have been lost then.

So lots of things floating around in the haze here and very interested in seeing what objects and words solidify. Thanks for setting up this blog for us to talk through our ideas. What is everyone else thinking about or working on for July?-Kristin Thacher

first blog

I'm going to read the book as soon as I get back to Taos. Meanwhile, I'm hoping that the work I'm in the middle of can pertain... it always seems to be "the first" . But, maybe not. In which case, I will attempt to be more focused. For now, I'm glad to have blogged.

A daunting narrative

I hope all is well with everyone and that your muse is ever-present in all your creative endeavors!

I've never blogged before-- never even read a blog-- and I'm getting the sense that many of us are in the same place. I feel as if I've been thrown into this without a road map or compass, but hey! I'm giving it a go. Personally, I like email!

Whether or not you were present at the initial conversation last summer, never fear. We are all in this now, eh? One thing I remember was that a lot of our conversation centered on Iraq... on the war and Bagdad and its place in human history. That was almost a year ago and the war is continuing even as I write. Inanna came from that first, ancient civilization. I believe the layers of history and memory living in that place, that are written into the earth, present us with a daunting narrative. I ask myself, does it beckon me to listen or does it demand to be told? Inanna's story, the story of the land past and present; it's all woven of a piece to me.

I'd like to open our inspiration to that narrative. RESPONSE ANYONE?

Tricia