North Carolina Miscellany
N C L R ONLINE
117
COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
Sanctuary (Pandemonium) (acrylic on multiple cut wood panels, 20x48) by Sharon Dowell
only to stop crushing the bone that cradles my brain - to stop pushing me under the waves to stop throwing me into a hole when I seek relief – I want an easeful life I want a pile of clean pajamas inviting me to crawl in there and enjoy an endless pearl necklace of good night sleeps but instead I can crawl on my knees over gravel - gravel is nothing it’s softer than popcorn - I can crawl all night on a gravel road and your only job will be to not lock every gate so I can’t get in not lock every gate so I can’t get out to not pretend you don’t see me not pretend you don’t hear my song the ringing the singing of my bent fork a song cut of cheap metal, a song of thin breakable tines – a bent song one note only E sharp – it is what I have E sharp your only job can be to restrain your self
SHARON DOWELL received her MA in Arts Administration from Winthrop University and her BFA from UNC Charlotte. She has served as an Adjunct Professor and Rowe Galleries Coordinator at UNC Charlotte and as Director for Center of the Earth Gallery. A 2014 TedX Charlotte speaker, she regularly lectures and teaches art workshops. Her commissions include large-scale mural and transit projects for Chicago, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Boulder, CO, and Rock Hill, SC. Her residencies include McColl Center and Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, as well as others in Barcelona, Mexico City, Ireland, Iceland, Costa Rica, and Vermont. She has received multiple ASC grants, and her work is in corporate collections nationwide.