Artists are invited to submit proposals for the "Dignity of Work" Exhibit, a new addition to the general art show and sale taking place on September 20th at Art for Jobs. For more information, review the Call for Artists here. Please note that a $100 stipend will be awarded to artists chosen for the exhibit. Simply submit your idea for the work and 2-3 jpgs of previous projects to klareau@advancememphis.org. The deadline for proposals is July 27 in order to be included in press materials.
The below poem reflects some of our vision for the exhibit. Join us!
To Be of Use
by Marge Piercy
The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half submerged balls.
I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.
I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who stand in the line and haul in their places,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.
The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.
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