EMERGE Week 1 Reflection - Sarah Hopkin

"Start with the body and the movement" 

Sara Coffin shared with us. Wise words! I have always begun the creative process with and idea or theme I wanted to explore, boxing myself in. Exploring through movement first and then reflecting on what has emerged has proven to be an effective method this week.

Given the time and nurturing environment, more seems possible than in past creations.

We went into creating movement with the idea of contrasting energy. This led us to explore women's presence on opposite ends of the spectrum; gentile vs. primal.
After stringing everything together on Friday and watching it back, it turns out gentile seems to have been dropped and a psychological struggle has become an evident theme. The material has created a sort of nightmarish feeling.

Now, with our openness to whatever emerges, we are excited to dive into this new found place on Monday. I am looking forward to seeing what turns and discoveries are coming our way! 

I've pasted a part of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe as the poem came to mind when I was thinking about the nightmare theme we uncovered yesterday:

The Raven

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—

            Only this and nothing more.”

    Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

    Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

    From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

            Nameless here for evermore.

    And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

    So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

    “’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—

            This it is and nothing more.”

    Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

    But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

    And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—

            Darkness there and nothing more.

    Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

    But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

    And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—

            Merely this and nothing more.

    Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

    “Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;

      Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

            ’Tis the wind and nothing more!”

To see full poem: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178713

The Emerge Program is supported by: 

the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Communities, Culture & Heritage,

RBC Emerging Artist Foundation and Kinetic Studio.