poetry, stories

Langston Hughes’ poems and short stories have inspired a group of Douglas County artists to create an exhibition of paintings, collages, prints and sculptures.

“Dream Variations: Art Inspired by the Work of Langston Hughes” opened Friday and will continue through March 10 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 200 W. Ninth St.

The exhibit is the brainchild of Brigid Murphy, an art teacher at Langston Hughes School, who sent letters to 40 area artists asking if they would be willing to contribute to the show. Thirty-two artists jumped at the chance.

“Before we sent the letter, almost all of the artists had never read Langston Hughes,” said Sally Piller, a Lawrence artist who is helping to coordinate the show.

“One Christmas Eve” from “The Way of White Folks”:

“But I seed Santa Claus in there,” little Joe said, “so I went in.”

“Huh! That wasn’t no Santa Claus,” Arcie explained. “If it was, he wouldn’t a-treated you like that. That’s theatre for white folks I told you once and just a old white man.”

“Oh ” said little Joe.

“We got people to pick up a book and get turned on by his writing,” Murphy said.

Here is a sampling of the artworks in the show and the poems or short stories that inspired them.


As I Grew Older

It was a long time ago,

I have almost forgotten my dream.

But it was there then,

In front of me,

Bright like a sun,

My dream.

And then the wall rose,

Rose slowly,

Slowly,

Between me and my dream.

Rose slowly, slowly,

Dimming,

Hiding,

The light of my dream.

Rose until it touched the sky

The wall.

Shadow.

I am black.

I lie down in the shadow.

No longer the light of my dream before me,

Above me.

Only the thick wall.

Only the shadow.

My hands!

My dark hands!

Break through the wall!

Find my dream! Help me shatter this darkness,

To smash this night,

To break this shadow

Into a thousand lights of sun,

Into a thousand whirling dreams

Of sun!


Cross

My old man’s a white old man

And my old mother’s black.

If I ever cursed my white old man

I take my curses back.

If I ever cursed my black old mother

And wished she were in hell,

I’m sorry for that evil wish

And now I wish her well.

My old man died in a fine big house.

My ma died in a shack.

I wonder where I’m gonna die,

Being neither white nor black?


Stars

O, sweep of stars over Harlem streets,

O, little breath of oblivion that is night.

A city building

To a mother’s song.

A city dreaming

To a lullaby.

Reach up your hand, dark boy, and take a star.

Out of the breath of oblivion

That is night,

Take just

One star.


Walls

Four walls can hold

So much pain,

Four walls that shield

From the wind and rain.

Four walls can shelter

So much sorrow

Garnered from yesterday

And held for tomorrow.


Other contributors

Other artists exhibiting works include Susan Ashline, Colette Bangert, T. Watson Bogaard, Amy Carlson, Carol Ann Carter, Kristin Dempsey, Diana Dunkley, Hobart Jackson, Shakura Jackson, Ted Johnson, Susan Jordan, Laura Jost, Cima Katz, Matt Kirby, Michael Krueger, Cathy Ledeker, Nancy Marshall, Missy McCoy, Sally Piller, Jack Osegovic, Ardys Ramberg, Jeff Ridgway, Jennifer Rinehart-Unekis, Celia Smith, Shanna Wagner, Pat Wilson and Elizabeth Hatchett.