This project was conducted by Milt Friedly, Leslie McGrath, and E. Ethelbert Miller.
A diverse group of poets and visual artists were selected to collaborate on an interdisciplinary project with a common theme for a period of seven months with an outcome of a unique traveling exhibition of poetry and art. Participants were selected based on recommendations from respected artists and poets, as well as considering gender, nationality and creating opportunity for younger artists and poets who might be less advanced in their careers, and those who might bring a unique perspective to the project. A primary objective for project participants is to create new works that might not otherwise be considered within their genre, and through an exchange respond and create new work based on other’s perspectives for the theme. The exact outcomes are unknown until the works are created. The intended outcome will be a first rate showing of art and poetry.
The following list of artists and poets have been invited and accepted the invitation to participate in The Handprint Identity Project… For examples of past work, CV’s and resumes please see the folder HIP Examples of Work and Resumes.
Poets
1. Shirley Ainoo,
Gaithersburg, Maryland/Ghana
2. Scott Cairns, University
of Missouri
3. Jennifer Foerster, San
Francisco, California
4. Sandra Kohler, Boston,
Massachusetts
5. Leslie Mcgrath,
Stonington, Connecticut
6. Ethelbert Miller,
Howard University
7. David Mura,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
8. Julie Kasdorf, The
Penn Sate University
9. Carmine Sarracino,
Elizabethtown College
10. Ravi Shankar, Central
Connecticut State University
Visual Artists
1. Stacey M. Carter, San
Francisco, California
2. Bivas Chaudhuri,
Brooklyn, NY/India
3. Carol Cole,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. Donald Forsyth,
Messiah College
5. Milt Friedly,
Elizabethtown College
6. Carol Galligan,
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
7. Fred Metz, Seattle,
Washington
8. David Reif, the
University of Wyoming (Retired)
9. Kebedech Tekleab,
Howard University/Ethiopia
10. Leslie Kaufman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Proposed outcomes are:
- To display the unique creative results of a collaborative interdisciplinary project The Handprint Identity Project… by means of visual art, the written word and technology in selected art galleries and writing centers. This exhibition will promote interdisciplinary approaches for the arts and serve as an example of creative collaboration to seek out common and uncommon human experience. It will serve as an example of diverse people working together to promote excellence. The show is expected to travel to various venues across the country after opening at Elizabethtown College.
- To create a professional color catalogue devoted to
the participants and outcomes of the project. The catalogue will be used
to promote interest in the project for future venues in art galleries and
writing centers across the country. The catalogue will devote at least one
page to each participant with a short biography, statement and an example
of his or her work. An invited art critic will be asked to write a forward
for the catalogue. The catalogue
will also be supplementary to materials for outside funding, i.e., it will
further substantiate the project and be available at future exhibition
sites.
- To create a small book of poetry that will be a
companion to the art on display. This publication will include selected
poems that relate to specific art works in the exhibition. It will also
contain other selected poems for the project. This book will be available
for purchase at all exhibition sites.
- To promote student involvement at a professional level through curatorial duties, design, and installation of the exhibition. Students will become more familiar with the workings of a first-rate exhibition production. Elizabethtown College students will share their project experiences through a public forum, which will be promoted by the Fine Arts Division at Elizabethtown College. Participating galleries and museums will involve students at their own discretion.
- To create a multimedia presentation of poets reading their work and unique interviews with artists in their studios. This will be accomplished with digital cameras and the use of ipods or MP3 to playback the data. Select readings and interviews will be available on the website. The website will be updated periodically.
Click here to learn more about The Handprint Identity Project [doc]
