“Women and the Arts: A Celebration of Spirit”

WomenSpirit is an organization of Christian women of many denominations. The group works to enhance understanding and cooperation among women in the Christian tradition, and to reach out to those of all faiths to build bridges of hope, faith, and community. Tonight’s presentation is one of many events organized by this group of women who are committed to enlivening and emboldening the beauty, creativity, and faith of all women.

The event was held in the chapel on the campus of the College of St Catherine. The performance space was peacefully simple, yet enveloped in the ornate details of a traditional place of worship.

Sally Rousse and Christian Burns with the James Sewell Ballet

The evening began with a performance by Sally Rousse. Ms. Rousse’s is a choreographer who has worked in both theatrical and commercial venues such as the Southern Theater, the Walker Art Center, VocalEssence, and James Sewell Ballet. She has performed as a leading dancer with Ballet Chicago, the Royal Ballet of Flanders and James Sewell Ballet. She chose a piece titled Chair Bones. The dance was choreographed for her by an old friend. Sally’s talent was evident in the simply staged but complex dance she performed. Her partner was a chair. Her costume suggested the bones of a tutu, without the skirt. She moved her body with great fluidity, while also capturing the modern dance movements that seemed to be more sharp and direct. The piece borrowed elements from both classical and modern dance, and Sally married them beautifully. It was a joy to watch a dancer in such an intimate space, capturing the beauty of her lines and artistry as she made the most complicated steps look simple.

Sally’s performance was followed by a reading by Susan Deborah (Sam) King. Ms. King is a poet and author of two collections: Tabernacle: Poems of an Island and Coven. Sam has a new collection about to be published next year titled One Breasted Woman, about her experience with breast cancer.

Ms. King read a selection from each of her books. She began with a poem entitled “Boob.” Sam described her journey through breast cancer and told the audience that the experience has unleashed energy in her. She described herself as “being a little more polite” before she had breast cancer. The poem describes the prosthetic breast she wears each day. Her words captured the essence of a woman who struggles to maintain an illusion of wholeness, “at least once I’m dressed.” The line that captured an image that stood out referred to Sam as “not wanting to be defined by loss.” None of us truly want that in our lives, but some are forced to confront it in physical ways each day. The poem was one that many in the audience could relate to, as many raised their hands when Sam asked who in the crowd had had breast cancer.

Sam continued her reading, this time choosing a selection from Coven. She talked about times in her life when she has felt fallow and assured the audience that although American society does not appreciate the need to lie fallow at times, the fruits of that time are invaluable. A line in the poem describes the need to “Curl in and cover; let the dark cup you.” The poem introduced the audience to the goddesses and other strong women who have shaped Sam’s life. The metaphor of this work described spinning wool from difficult things and turning that very wool of sorrow and pain into works of beauty and warmth. The poem was comforting and empowering. As one woman in the poem said of her handiwork, “I’ve got something to show for my trouble.”

Ms. King closed with a poem from Tabernacle. For her, this was a piece about finding home. She told the audience that this work was inspired by the painting titled Evening Melancholy on the Beach, by Edvard Munch. The poem was titled “Grief’s Progress.” For Sam, home is a place “it is safe at last to be sad.” The poem describes the healing properties of the ocean and describes the Atlantic as a place where she could pour her tears. The idea of home was a fitting way to close her reading.

Mary Rose O’Reilley read from her recent memoir, The Love of Impermanent Things: A Threshold Ecology. She began her presentation by asking the audience, “What can we not bring before God?” She described what she was about to read as her “Spirituality of Failure.” The reading was a brilliantly written scene from her troubled marriage. While sadly humorous, she described in intimate detail the notion of jumping out a moving car to get away from an argument with her husband. Ms. Reilley minutely described behavior she thought defined her as crazy to her doctor and others, and realized that all to whom she confessed had taken the same actions themselves. She described divorce as “a radical makeover.” Although it is painful, we are forced to confront our less than perfect selves and acknowledge that we are no less lovable. It is an opportunity to let go of old beliefs about ourselves and others. Her humorous soft-spoken manner was a delight in the telling of a painful but human story that many in the audience could understand.

While she did not read any of her poetry, Mary Rose O’Reilley was the winner of the 2005 Walt Whitman Award of the American Academy of Poets. The judge for 2005 was Mary Oliver, so Ms. O’Reilley has certainly earned her stripes as a poet as well.

The final performer was Maria Jette. Ms. Jette’s career extends from chamber music to operatic repertoire. She has appeared with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and many other orchestras nationwide. She has also been heard on A Prairie Home Companion.

Ms. Jette performed songs written for a single unaccompanied voice. Her music filled the hall with magic as she sang songs written by Herbert Bedford. Jette explained that Bedford set the poetry of Shakespeare, Sylva and Yeats to music. She described how she discovered these simple songs while simply thumbing through the card catalog in the Library of Congress. She explained that this find was purely synchronistic. In the process, she discovered a new genre for her voice, which she has pursued. She had a chance to work with local composer Dominick Argento, who composed songs for her using the work of Walter de la Mare and Walt Whitman. Her interpretation of their poetry gave the work new meaning and allowed the words to take flight in a new way.

Mary Sue Hannan has been a parishoner for 6 years. She lives in South Minneapolis with a motley crew of critters. She is an avid Yankee fan who believes that the 2004 ALCS and World Series were merely a dream sequence in a bad "Fox Network Made For TV Movie." She is grateful to friends who indulge her in this belief.

The evening continued with a discussion of creative process for each artist. They were modest in their response, saying in one way or another that hard work and being open to the experience is what mattered most.

The program was a delightful entrée into the world of dance, song, and the written word. It was a chance for women to celebrate their talents with other women, and all went away filled with the joy of possibility in each of us.