The Slinger Garrett Reich Looking upon us as if We were his meal, As my family hides Behind a rock. I threaten the hawk With a stone in my hand. Prepared to kill to Protect my family. My son is ready to stone The hawk to shield His mother How fast children do grow. He is eyeing the goat standing Above me. But I will not allow my Family s goat to be eaten. Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps, The Slinger (detail), about 1849, oil on canvas Go away, I squawk At the man watching me. I only want to rest In the sun. I do not mean to Harm you.
Evening on the Oise Evan Schimberg In search of peace and quiet he draws The natural landscape of the Oise Without human or fowl including Only the quiet narrow water And wild growing, dense forests The view from the boat like studio grasps The painter with his brush and pallet, neutral Vivid colors of dusk spread As the clam Oise flows towards the sea On the canvas in realistic style The hills melt into the sky As the trees melt into darkness. Charles-Francois Daubigny, Evening on the Oise (detail), 1863, oil on canvas
Changing Pastures Maya Gleich Questioners and Curious, Where are headed? Do you know which path to take? There are so many possibilities, So many unexplored directions. Your Future is uncertain. Strangers do not know; Neither do you. Tomorrow is an untrodden pasture in some far away land. You can imagine what it will look like, But you will not know until you arrive. You have your shepherds guiding you to this green pasture. They push you with their sticks. Will you break from the herd, Or will you follow? Your sheherds push you to your future, A place faraway. Anton Mauve, Changing Pastures (detail), about 1887, oil on canvas
Dragons Charlie Karamanoukian Cloudy, raw, end-of-winter day Gazing at the superior imperial tapestry From the eastern world far from us. Embroidered gold on fine blue cloth Generous in proportion Spreading its powerful imagery and deep colors across the room. Gold, shimmering in its sea of blue. A golden dragon Overlooking a temple. Imposing Intimidating in its beauty. Alive. Made for the Chinese emperor to impress, Conveys more than craftsmanship. Communicates power and wealth and privilege. Reminds us of dragons of today. They want to be emperors. Many countries in the east. Dominated by such dragons They use staged media and tanks Not tapestries. The still pursue power and wealth. The emperors of today have dazzled their subjects Like the tapestry dazzled people long ago. Not much has changed except Then Power was expressed artistically at times Now Power is expressed more brutally. Power can have its own beauty and Can be admired. Painfully sad This is not the case today. Today s expressions of power Will leave nothing Behind For future generation To admire. Imperial Cover or Hanging (detail), China, mid-1800s, silk and metal thread embroidery on silk. Denver Art Museum, Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of Dr. Arnold L. Tanis, 1974.216 From the exhibition Threads of Heaven: Silken Legacy of China s Last Dynasty, on view at the Taft February 7 May 18, 2014.
Maternity Elizabeth Gimpel Some say hard work will pay off, But Will it ever be enough? Baggy eyes, and rosy cheeks Wretched hair, filthy eyes Rough jagged black hands from tough work, Farming and tending fields Work is enough. Exhaustion No husband, more dirty work, No help, Black hands Trying to do everything she can to support her son, The only savior, Cross shaped body Stiff as a baby should never be. It s dark no light, Except her bright infant, Who keeps her light burning. Wishing there was more to give him Reminding her why she works so hard, And does what she does. The fear of taking the wrong step. Not forward only back. Will it ever be enough? Maternity Jean-Francois Millet, Maternité: A Young Mother Cradling Her Baby (detail), 1870 73, oil on canvas