Intimacy of a Stranger

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Townsend Atelier

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intimacy of a stranger

Townsend Atelier is pleased to announce a special performance of original poetry by Chattanooga poets, Moll King, and Erika Roberts. Sculptor, Maria Willison will do a live portrait sculpture demo. The event is open to the public free of charge but donations of $5 are welcome.

In January 2021, Moll and Erika were hired as portrait models for a sculpture workshop at Townsend Atelier led by internationally acclaimed sculptor, David Simon. Moll and Erika had to sit still for 7 hours a day (with breaks) for three days while being studied and sculpted by 10 students who had enrolled in the workshop. The experience of being intensly observed and examined by strangers grew into a deeply personal experience for both models. Each felt compelled to capture their unique experience through writing poetry which will be performed at Intimacy of a Stranger, on April 15 at Townsend Atelier.

With portrait sculpture, we often only look at and admire the finished work of art without thinking about what the experience was for the model or what they were feeling or thinking. Moll King says, "I want to have a conversation with all of you about what it feels like to fall into short-term love. What it's like to have your heart filled for just a day, and drink the intimacy of a stranger. It's the drunkest I've ever been."

The evening will include performances by each poet, process photographs from the sculpture workshop, and a live sculpture demo by artist, Maria Willison. Erika Roberts says, "Poetry allows organic sharing of a vision."