“In a dark, candlelit club in Madrid, a glass of Spanish red in front of me, my heart skips a beat and then pounds on faster. The commanding spectacle has begun. Clap, slap, stomp: The stage comes alive, the music beautifully haunting, the dance completely captivating, and just like that, I’m transported. I’ve entered the world of flamenco, a Spanish tradition of song and dance that goes back to at least 1774, when it was first mentioned in literature. On Nov. 16, 2010, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. I am humbled by the performance, moved to tears by the sheer power of it. I can’t remember how many performances I saw on that trip to Spain, or how many I have seen since, but I know I was forever enchanted, a goner for this art form, haunting and passionate — nothing is held back. I painted this dance again and again, and would return to it as a subject matter anytime.
“This image recalls the dark bars and clubs where the only light is on the star of the show, the dancer, as she moves her body, uninhibited, as if the music were coming from inside her. I played the music of flamenco as I painted, let the feeling and passion of the song and memories of the movement of dance flow through me as I worked. Cheers to art inspiring art!”
Size: 36 x 36
Medium: Mixed media
Price: SOLD
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