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ilovejoyjessie · 8 months ago

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Hidden Figures #4 (The Eagle by Alexander Calder) || I.

I didn't originally plan to interact with Alexander Calder's "Eagle" but as photographer @skyclad.studio and I came upon it and its spot on the hill, the sun was making its way up the hill as well, hitting the sculpture just right and inviting us to it.

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With one of the goals of 'Hidden Figures' being to challenge myself to interact with a sculpture's scene, using my body to mirror or contrast its shapes, I saw "The Eagle" as a delightful challenge.

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With its blunt lines and angles and giant-like stature, what could little old me do to stand up to and alongside the monumental sculpture? I took notice of its sharp lines and sought to match or oppose them - show it I could be tall, strong and monumental too.

But ultimately - I'm a human: I fold and I curl; I wave and I bend. I could show the Eagle that I was strong like it was or I could just flow around it: Show it what it's like to be made of skin and bone. Show it - and remind myself - that one doesn't always have to be biggest presence in the room, make the largest gestures to make an impact. Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. Similarly to my interaction with "Wake" by Richard Serra, I let small touches make the biggest impressions: A pointed toe, intentional extensions, arcs and waves stick out like many paintings and figure drawings before me would have their subjects do to add an extra visual interest element to the capture.

Besides, allowing oneself to be its most natural - accepting ones truest state - can allow it to shine like the sun rising up over a hill on a summer morning. And for all the hiding and tucking I did amongst the other scenes in the park, there was wasn't much room to hide around this piece. It was a giant stage for me to show it, show onlookers, show Seattle, show anyone my truest self.

I didn't originally plan to interact with The Eagle, but as many of our random encounters prove over time, it's very possible that the opportunity presented itself for a reason. As many pieces of art do, it has something to show me and I'm grateful it waited patiently for just the right time to beckon us to it and deliver its silent message.