AiPP -  The Art of Movement & Dance

The Starkville Area Arts Council is excited to announce our next Art in Public Places (AiPP) Exhibit of 2023: The Art of Movement & Dance. This exhibit will be on display beginning July 10, 2023.

This exhibit will be on display in-person and online from July 10 to September 11, 2023, in the Starkville Area Arts Council's office in downtown Starkville (122 East Main St.)

Please join us for an Opening Reception on July 11 at 5:30 pm at SAAC (122 E Main St) to celebrate this exhibit. See you there!

Works may be for sale. If you are interested in purchasing any of these works, please continue reading below.

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About the Exhibit

 This show has the theme of Movement/Dance: artworks that represent things in motion or the feeling of movement."Dancers aren't the only ones who can grace us with beautiful motions. Visual 2D and 3D art can represent this as well. A photograph or painting can show us the nature of movement or dance in the blurring or bursting of things. Lines from a poem can make our imagination dance. Sculpture can elicit the feeling of motion."

This exhibit includes 24 works by 17 different artists from the Golden Triangle and the South, as well as artists from New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania. Works include photography, watercolor, oil, acrylic, and sculpture pieces.

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​Works on display in-person until September 11, 2023.

Hover or click on images below to view title, medium, and pricing. Click image to view fullscreen.
Please CALL OR EMAIL SAAC (info at bottom of this page) if interested in purchasing available works.

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Jack Bordnick (Santa Fe, NM)

My sculptural imagery is a reflection of my past and present forces and the imagination of my life’s stories. They represent an evolutionary process of these ideas and how that all of life’s forces are interconnected, embraced and expressed thru creative art forms.
These works represent what I have accomplished with this art form. I call it my quantum and metaphoric moment, the changing from one form to another. They express and implement my thoughts and feelings, regarding taking risks, without any guarantee of their success and to be reflected in these present works, is my goal.

www.jackbordnickstudio.com

Facing It Together
Jack Bordnick
Digital photography juxtaposed with 3D imagery
Apx. 8" x 10"
$250

"I use 3D images and models, in combination with 2D images, to achieve a feeling of  being caught in stoped motion."

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Walter Diehl (Starkville, MS)

Walter J. Diehl is an avid world traveler and amateur photographer.  He hopes that his photography provides viewers both a glimpse into those places that he has been privileged to visit and inspires them to travel on their own to experience the cultures and beauty of new places.  Diehl does not try to be the typical travel photographer, and he probably breaks most of the ‘rules’ of travel photography.  Rather, he is a traveler first who tries to take the most inspiring photographs that he can under the conditions that exist at the time.  His travel habits rarely allow him to sit in one place very long or take advantage of the best light for chosen scenes or subjects.  Depending on the trip, he may focus on photographing nature, architecture, and/or culture.  In his world, scenes are rarely perfect, and so he is constantly trying to improve on how he deals with this reality.  Diehl enjoys the reactions of people viewing his photographs.  In an admittedly selfish sense, their reactions allow him to enjoy his travels all over again.  But only for a while, because now he is already thinking about how to photograph his next trip(s).

Whirling Dervish
Walter Diehl
Photography
17"W X 23"H
$150

"The Whirling Dervish or Sema is a form of active meditation, in which the dancer or Semazen rotates repeatedly on his (usually) or her vertical axis for up to 1 hour.  Remarkably, they do not get dizzy.  The Semazen in this photograph was performing for tourists on a Nile River Cruise in Cairo, Egypt.  The performance only lasted for about 15 minutes, more than enough time to for the untrained to get seriously disoriented."

Marimba Wave
Water Diehl
Photography
17"W X 23"H
$150

"On a recent trip to Mexico, we were fortunate to see several different performances of the Marimba, a traditional folkloric dance whose origins trace to Africa.  The costumes flow as the dance progresses so that even a stop-motion photograph, such as the one seen here, gives the distince impression of wave upon wave of color bursting forth."

Togolese Ritual Voodoo Dance
Walter Diehl
Photography
17"W X 23"H
$150

"Voodoo traces its origin to the west African countries of Benin and Togo.  In Togo, we were invited to observe a ritual voodoo ceremony whereby novices practiced entering trances in preparation for war, should the Voodoonou (Elder) deem such a drastic action necessary for the well-being of the community.  The original west African practice of voodoo bears little resemblance to the more familiar, but highly derivative, Caribbean religion."

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April Edwards (Starkville, MS)

April is a new retiree who is exploring a whole new world of art by attending classes on campus and learning on the Internet.  (Cause you can learn anything on you tube.)

Can't stop the flow
April Edwards
Photography
12" x 16"
$50

"This image captures the life and excitement of a tribal dance show in a modern setting."

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dn  eQ (Yerevan, Armenia)

I would like to apply to participate in this project. I have always been interested in art. I am always looking for ways to connect with art.
I started doing art and it became intimate. I've been doing it for almost 7 years. Over the years, I have participated in various exhibitions: Art Revolution Taipei - 2019 International Grand Prize Artist Competition, Olive Free Library - PANDEMONIUM - 5th Annual Small Works Exhibition, The Duluth Art Institute - Popular Opinions: A Cultural Discussion Exhibition, and my work has been published in magazines - Route 7 Review, The Talon Review.
In my opinion, the most important in the world are people with their own inner world. That's why I paint people. I paint them abstractly because the human soul is very complex and incomprehensible.
This world has its own canons, but sometimes a little abstract phenomena in my opinion, make the world more interesting.

A couple
dn  eQ
Oil
12" x 16"
$250

"A dancing couple is depicted"

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Grace Flippo (Tupelo, MS)

Grace Flippo is a native Mississippi artist currently located in Tupelo, MS. Working primarily in acrylics, her work is heavily inspired by figures found in nature and post-impressionistic art. Grace’s work reflects her admiration of the outdoors, adoration of food and appreciation of marine creatures. Vibrant colors, prominent brush strokes and distinguished textures are motifs that frequent Grace’s work. She uses quick and fluid techniques to create a sense of calm, organic movement throughout her pieces. Flippo's use of bright color palettes paired with expressive movement often provide a heightened energy to her paintings.

https://www.instagram.com/givinggrace_art/?hl=en

All At Once
Grace Flippo
Acrylic
26”x38”
$3,800

"This piece depicts the constant, calm movement of koi fish swimming amongst each other, each in their own flowy rhythm as if they were dancing. This piece is meant to represent the steady beat of time and its gentle command our lives. The fish symbolize how our lives or "dances" overlap, part and syncopate as we move in our unique directions and tempos. "

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Elakiya Jayaraman (Starkville ,MS)

The water sing and dance and it makes people to jump and dance when we connect with the waves(water dance). The beach song is the best sound in all our emotions. the movement of waves makes as happy.. The sound of waves are like the melody to give peaceful sleep for all age. I know you could still hear the beach sound with dance.

The Art of dance by Waves
Elakiya Jayaraman
Photography
8" x 5"
$50

"Not just human dance the waves are the form of dance by water."

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Malaina  Joullian (Madison, MS)

Malaina Joullian resides in Madison, Mississippi with her husband, Seth, and her two children, Miles and Lily. She attended Mississippi State University and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 2010. At an early age, Malaina discovered her love for creating art while experimenting with various mediums. She continues to create art, typically painting, in her home studio. Malaina's main focus is painting wildlife with a whimsical flair that can sometimes evoke a nostalgic feeling.

https://www.instagram.com/see_mj_art/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

B.B.
Malaina Joullian
Acrylic
36" X 36 "
SOLD

"This painting is of esteemed Mississippi musician, B.B. King. He defined blues for the entire world. His music provoked a movement, both culturally and physically."

Jimi at Monterey
Malaina  Joullian
Watercolor; Acrylic Paint; Oil Pastels
30" X 22"
$600

"This painting is of Jimi Hendrix at his iconic performance at Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. During his rendition of Fire, Jimi put his guitar down by an amp, his manager dousing it with lighter fluid as the band played on. Jimi grabbed the guitar and lit a match, and set fire to his guitar. In my eyes, this was a ritualistic dance of a human provoked to act in absolute capacity of true artistry."

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Samuel Lawson (Starkville, MS)

Samuel Lawson Jr is a Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate of Mississippi State University. This piece represents the human form at rest but in motion also through repetition.

BluLawsonFineArt.com

Movement
Samuel Lawson Jr.
Soft Pastel
18" x 24"
$200

"This piece represents the human body at rest but still in motion."

You and I
Samuel Lawson Jr.
Charcoal
24" x 30"
$350

"2 forms about to engage"

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Kelly Maida (Clinton, NY)

My artwork has saved my life. It heals me. It is my therapy. Art is a way for me to express my vision. It is my form of therapy. It makes me feel alive. My creations are my babies. I feel like I am giving birth to new life in each piece of art that I create. It is very sacred to me.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCay8X_gq3U6J4eth8OfhV9g

Healing Art/ Oceanic Reiki Seahorse
Kelly Maida
Acrylic
8" x 11"
$50

"The seahorse dances and flows with the ocean. He rides the waves and dances with them. He is a healing piece of art. I put reiki symbols all over this painting. So that way the viewer will receive healing when they are near the painting."

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Pete Melby (Starkville, MS)

Pete Melby is a water color, and pen and ink artist featuring images and culture of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Third in Line is his coast novel which features a lady politician from south Mississippi who restores coastal water conditions which bring back oysters in the Mississippi Sound. 

Bowsprit of Oyster Biloxi Schooner
Pete Melby
Watercolor
11" x 13"
$1,500

"Mississippi Coast oyster schooners, also called "the Graceful Ladies" were powered by the nearly constant breezes in the Mississippi Sound.  Up to six canvas sails are used to catch gulf coast breezes and propel the wood schooners to once plentiful oysters such as in Telegraph and St. Stanislaus Reefs.  The bowsprit is the wooden extension in the front of the boat on which to attach the triangular shaped flying jib sail. "

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Sophie Peters (Philadelphia PA)

Painting allows me to document and process the events that shape me, capturing fleeting moments before they fade into the subconscious. As a dancer in my childhood, movement and fluidity have always remained a key element of the work I produce and the way I paint.

www.sophiepetersartwork.com

Red Body Motion 1
Sophie Peters
Acrylic
16" x 20"
$450

"These pieces reflect the experience of a female body in motion and the abstract, sensuous nature of her interior world."

Red Body Motion 2
Sophie Peters
Acrylic
12" x 16"
$300

"These pieces reflect the experience of a female body in motion and the abstract, sensuous nature of her interior world."

Red Body Motion 3
Sophie Peters
Acrylic
8" x 10"
$200

"These pieces reflect the experience of a female body in motion and the abstract, sensuous nature of her interior world."

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Andre Ray (Columbus, MS)

I’ve always imagined myself being mesmerized by the sun and surrounded by nature.  Art chose me from an early age.  From the art of my great Aunt to the C.M. Russell catalog I was given by my parents, art was my focus. In college I was looking for a direction. As a struggling student the above quote by Cézanne was written on one of my works.  It helped narrow my focus. Growing up in the south and in Boy Scouts I always had a love for nature. Other themes immerged such as music, farm life, cowboys, and Native Americans. These are things that interested me since childhood and painting always gave me a way to connect.

andres-art.com

Speed
Andre Ray
Oil Paint
30" x 40"
$2,000

"This is a horse running at full speed. Movement is emphasis is seen by the background. The Colors and background are all a blur like an action photograph. "

Native dancer
Andre Ray
Oil Paint
15" x 30"
$800

"The Native Dancer. This is based on a picture I did in school many years ago.in watercolor and I also drew this image for another project in college. Natives have always fascinated me, and the idea of the particular dances was how they communicated with God.  Even today in Pow-Wows it is how they are connected to their past and ancestors come to the forefront in the activity of dance."

Choctaw dance/ Moundsville
Andre Ray
Oil Paint16" x 20"
$4500


"This was a dance that I witnessed at Moundsville Indian Mounds near Tuscaloosa AL. It was recreation of a Dance used for teaching of explaining tradition so all may participate in the thoughtfulness and activity of the dance. "

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Peyton Rushton (Starkville, MS)

When you start looking for the beauty in the mundane, you'll find it. Suddenly your daily life becomes art work - a statement in itself. What beautiful artist's we can all be.

Mecurial
Peyton Rushton
Acrylic
16” x 20”
$250

"Ustrasana also known as camel pose, is a well known pose used in yoga. The different movements in the art of yoga are extremely beneficial for ones physical, mental, and emotional health. With this piece I wanted to capture one of my favorite movements."

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Rabia Siddiqui (Starkville, MS)

Rabia Siddiqui is a student at Mississippi State University in the Fine Arts program concentrating in Sculpture. They are currently in an experimental phase with medium and technique as they approach their Senior year of college and their Senior Thesis. They aspire to work more with fabric and needlework on a large scale, but isn't opposed to experimenting further and seeing where art takes them. As a multitude of intersectionality, much of their works tend to focus on the cultural responses of feeling as if they're looking in from the outside. Creating community through or by their works is an utmost responsibility, so anyone who feels as lost as they do can find solace in the wonders of art. There is a sense of escapism in their work. For them, it is through the act of creation, but for others it is the perception of the creation itself.

https://www.instagram.com/squidiki/

Work in Progress
Rabia Siddiqui
Fabric Sculpture
9"x5"x9"
$120

"Yoga is the only form of movement that I've actually stuck with, and every time I relearn the methods I remember that I am always a work in progress. In the same way, I made this piece as a means of experimenting with mediums and techniques. The flow and movement of my needle becomes meditative and methodical. As this figure bends backwards and their hair falls by gravity, I too give a soft exhale."

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Nel Slaughter (Starkville, MS)

Being young and uninhibited while dancing is one of life's precious moments.  The hope is that  my granddaughter will remember that joy every time she looks at this painting.

Laura's pure joy
Nel Slaughter
OIl
16" x 20"
NFS

"My granddaughter loves to salsa dance.  I tried to capture the pure joy that radiated from her face in mid twirl."

Stroke - exploding our world
Nel Slaughter
OIl
18" x 24"
$150

"A stroke is like an explosion that shatters all you know."

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Tabby Stone (Lafayette, LA)

Tabitha “Tabby” Stone is currently a full time artist in Lafayette, Louisiana - a town that likes to inspire anyone interested in the arts. She’s usually seen documenting and sharing her process in hopes that it may inspire someone else some day.

“I know that not every day is the same. There’s good days, bad days, and everything in between. Trying to convey that is quite the experience for me. I like to create a more colorful stylistic view of the every day while creating pieces that speak to my explorative nature.

The process of a painting has always been my favorite part of the art world. The themes I paint will change gradually as I continue to study and build my works around the use of bright colors, unique brush work, different subjects, etc.

Every day offers a new opportunity to express myself and to better understand the impact my work has on others. Looking forward to what comes next”. - Tabitha Stone

tabbystonearts.com

Some Kind of Day
Tabby Stone
Acrylic
24" x 18"
$480

"Inspired by those days where you don't have any idea what you're doing but you know you need to move/do something."

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Doris Wu (Starkville, MS)

Working through different mediums (mostly watercolor), I reimagine common objects, scenes, and creatures, and present them in a way that gives them new life and meaning. My work represents my desire to see myself in a new light as I develop and grow as a person and artist.

https://instagram.com/bandana_fred?igshid=ZDc4ODBmNjlmNQ==

Grandbattement
Doris Wu
Watercolor
8 1/2" x 11"
$100

"Grandbattement is one of the more difficult moves in ballet. The dancer's pose at it's conclusion reminds us that the beauty we create makes the challenges of the process worth the effort it requires."

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About AiPP

As part of SAAC's AiPP series, works may be listed for sale, including framed and unframed pieces. SAAC collects and pays sales taxes on behalf of the artist for any work sold, and the artist keeps 80% of the proceeds. ​

Please CALL or EMAIL SAAC if you are interested in purchasing any of these works.