Li Hardison

Homage to Judith JamisonIn Residence: November 10 – December 19, 2008Exhibition opens December 18; continues through January 9, 2009Learning Lab: Colfax Community NetworkDuring her two-month residency at PlatteForum, Li Hardison completed the clay sculpture Homage to Judith Jamison that will be cast into bronze in the coming months. The sculpture honors Jamison, an American dancer and choreographer, best known as the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Born in 1943, Jamison began studying dance at age 6, and went on to dance with the American Ballet Theater, Alvin Ailey Company, Mikhail Baryshnikov and, eventually became the artist director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, prime time Emmy Award, and author of "Dancing Spirit", in 1993. Homage to Judith Jamison is the first in a series of tributes to black women artists who have inspired so many. As a child Hardison found her inspiration from celebrated sculptor and aunt Inge Hardison. “With this new series, I want to do for children what was done for me by my aunt who embodies the ‘I can’ in her life,” states Hardison.Hardison is a figurative sculptor, obsessed with rendering the planes and lines that are the magnificence of the human form. As a sculptor she hopes to convey faith, resoluteness, perseverance through struggle as well as to express a sense of the sacred in the human.“There have been numerous images painted and photographed of Jamison, but, to my knowledge, no one has sculpted a piece in the round of this magnificent dancer.” Homage is based on a 1971 image of Jamison from the dance Cry, created for her by Alvin Ailey, and is dedicated to all black women, especially our mothers. The dance and performance was a gift from Ailey to his mother. Homage stands 32 inches high, with an arm spread of 32” and sweeping skirt that is delicately sculpture from the clay. To transform the 1971 photo into a three-dimensional form, Hardison photographed Antoinette Barbor in dozens of poses that guided the artist as she worked. When completed in bronze, (2009) the swirling dress will be milky white in contrast to the chocolate brown of Jamison’s skin.During her residency Hardison worked with twelve youth, ages 9-11, creating relief sculptures. Beginning with handpicked images by the children, youth from  Colfax Community Network and ArtLab Jr’s learned techniques in drawing, sculpting and painting. The students have fallen in love with mother earth during their time spent at PlatteForum.  Buffalo, flamingos, tigers, snakes and bears roam in relief sculptures representing the students’ favorite and most cherished creature of the earth. Using plasteline clay, algenate molds, and plaster casts, youth in the Learning Labcreated two relief sculptures included in the exhibitionHomage to the Earth.FreeI am a winged soulTaking flight fromMy mother’s heart.I am free!A gentle breezeFlowing thru theMesh of life circumstance,shackles& ignorance.I am a winged soulTaking flightFrom my mother’s Heart.Li Hardison 2009