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Sculpting Edmonia’s story: Academy Visual Arts department gears up for special displays and an attention-grabbing centerpiece
Instructor Patty Smith and three of her students reveal how they’ll be supporting Dr. Bill Banfield’s new opera at Interlochen this May.
Part of the mold for the life-sized statue that several Visual Arts juniors are creating.
At Interlochen Arts Academy, students and instructors are preparing for the biggest event of the spring: the world premiere of Dr. Bill Banfield’s new opera, Edmonia, based on the life of 19th century Black and Indigenous sculptor Edmonia Lewis. Since Lewis was best known for her skill in visual art, it’s no surprise that Interlochen’s Visual Arts department will be deeply involved in this collaborative performance. Here, Visual Arts instructor Patty Smith shares about the artwork and special displays that audiences will enjoy in May. Plus, three Arts Academy students reveal the showstopping centerpiece that they’ve been working on.
An immersive entrance
From the moment audiences walk into Corson Auditorium, they’ll be surrounded by artwork that’s specifically chosen to complement Edmonia.
“As patrons enter the Corson lobby, they will experience an exhibition of student artwork related to Edmonia. Themes of identity and resilience will be highlighted,” says Visual Arts instructor Patty Smith. “This experience aims to draw parallels to current students and the life of Edmonia Lewis.”
Part of the display will include glimpses into the physical process of sculpting marble, including examples of the hammers and chisels that sculptors use. The student artwork on display will feature a rich variety of different mediums.
“We will have two-dimensional art and three-dimensional art. My sculpture class will contribute carved marble pieces,” says Smith. “There will also be oil paintings, ceramic work, drawings, and more.”
We want to put in perspective, physically, what Edmonia did and how impactful it was. It's easy for people to talk about how what she did was amazing, but I think that to fully understand it, you have to see a visual of a sculpture that size.
Reproducing Lewis’s most famous sculpture
The focal point of the display, however, will be a life-size, student-created reproduction of Lewis’s most famous sculpture, Death of Cleopatra. Visual Arts majors Chloe Snell, Zoe Bartholomew, and Marghi Coiro, all juniors at Interlochen Arts Academy, are collaborating on this ambitious piece.
“We were inspired by the story behind the sculpture, because it was lost for a really long time and then finally found,” says Snell. “It’s a lot like Edmonia’s story—she was this forgotten artist, and now all of the sudden she’s being brought forward into the light and her whole story is being told. We thought this sculpture would really embody her as a piece.”
Bartholomew is acting as the model for this sculpture. The students will cover her body with plastic wrap and then tape around it. Once it’s been removed from its human “mold”, the three will cover this inner structure with plaster before sanding it down.
“We’re figuring things out as we’re doing it,” says Coiro. “It takes time for the plaster to dry, so we have to plan ahead. We’re learning as we go.”
As she’s learned more about Lewis’s story, Bartholomew has found herself inspired by the courage this talented sculptor showed.
“Persistence is a huge part of her story, because I think that at many points in her life, a lot of people would have just given up and quit,” says Bartholomew. “But she still continued with her passion, even though she had to do it alone. That was a very impressive and brave thing to do.”
The three have high hopes for making a strong emotional impact with their completed sculpture.
“We want to put in perspective, physically, what Edmonia did and how impactful it was. It's easy for people to talk about how what she did was amazing, but I think that to fully understand it, you have to see a visual of a sculpture that size,” says Snell.
From artwork themed around resilience, to a central statue that’s designed to command attention, Interlochen’s Visual Arts department is creating an exhibit that’s sure to start conversations and add depth and richness to the audience experience of Edmonia.
Tickets are available for Edmonia, showing May 3-5, 2024.