Description
Balance Beam was born from memory, admiration, and a return to something I once stepped away from.
In the 1970s, I had an old friend named Alice Johnson—someone I adored as a kid. While I stopped taking art classes in seventh grade after getting a B in art and deciding I “wasn’t very good,” Alice kept going. She continued making art and developed a body of work that deeply impressed me: sequential imagery showing figures in motion, telling a story through repetition and progression.
Years later, while watching the Olympic Games in China, I was struck by the incredible Chinese gymnasts—especially those on the balance beam. Their precision, strength, and grace immediately brought Alice to mind. I felt a clear pull to create something in the spirit of the work she once made, as a kind of tribute and reconnection.
This piece reflects that inspiration. Balance Beam depicts a gymnast moving through a sequence, capturing motion, balance, and control. Embedded within the work are tiny sequin dancers—small but vital figures that echo rhythm and movement throughout the composition.
The materials are intentionally tactile and layered: beads, plastics, sequins, and small found objects come together to form both structure and sparkle. These elements mirror the discipline and delicacy of the gymnast herself—strength held together by balance.
For me, Balance Beam is not just about gymnastics. It’s about perseverance, missed paths, and returning to art later in life with renewed appreciation. It is both a homage to a fellow artist who never stopped and a quiet acknowledgment of my own journey back.
And yes—I think it’s done beautifully.
