Lead local artist Richard Ward worked with the Public Art Summer Program in 2019 to create “Dance to the Music” for Lakewood Dance Center. Richard designed a relief mural created of molded Styrofoam and Parex mounted on Hardibacker board.
“In the process, it was important to teach the participants how to measure the grids, carve forms out of the styrofoam and how to actually handle the product to get a smooth finish. The theme of the mural is a direct and simple response to the site where it is installed. Hence the text DANCE TO THE MUSIC succinct within the patterns of hexagons. The hexagons offer an opportunity to explore pure hues, tints and shades of red and blue as well as a few others of other basic colors. With the “play” of patterns, text and tints and shades of colors, these elements flowed continuously over the 3D forms of dancers and musical notes. Subsequently, the viewer should experience what I call a Poly-Rhythmic expression of all of these elements; pattern, text, color and 3D forms that syncopate as one expression. And of course, the idea of syncopation is a musical idiom.”
This is the 3rd project Richard has completed with the summer program.
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