solemn silence.wav

I wanted to demonstrate how a rhyme or poem can lose meaning over time. Nursery rhymes like “Ring around the rosey” have a dark history that is lost to modern day listeners. I, personally, wanted to explore “To sit in Solemn Silences.”This poem was taught to me in elementary school as a vocal warm up. at the time the poem meant nothing more to me then a game of who could say it the fastest. Because of the way that the poem is changing hands, it has become devoid of its original meaning. And through the replication of the poem, both oral and physical the poem has lost its original meaning. I am acknowledging the lost of meaning, but also allowing the listener to reflect on the original meaning by listening to the poem carefully. I felt that the display of this piece was important too. I created black pedestals. We use black to hid things, stages have black curtains so to not distract the eye, but in Calder all our pedestals are cream. By painting them black, I am drawing the eye to something that was hidden, like how I am trying to draw to ear to the poems meaning that has been overlooked.