The famous Nighthawks (1942) by Edward Hopper.
Bartender: “I can’t believe you’re back in town! Never thought I’d live to see the day John McKempoll strolled back into Phillies again. And with a lady too! Hold on, let me get you two a couple of drinks, on the house.” *Reaches for drinks under the cupboard* “What’ll it be?”
John: *Chuckles* “Glad to see you never change Tom. I’ll have a coffee, black. And this is Karla by the way.”
Karla: “Nice to meet you Tom. I’ll have what John’s having.”
John: *Looks at Karla* “Really? Never met a woman who takes her coffee black.”
Karla: “Well, I do…”
Tom: “Come on John, shouldn’t you know your lady’s preferences by now?”
John: “Actually we just met. Gave her a ride coming here.”
Tom: *Pause* “And why did you come here?”
John: *Silence*
Tom: *Shakes head* “Same old John, looking for trouble again.”
John: “That’s not why I came back.”
Tom: “Good, because Clyde’s still in town.”
John: “So what’s new? He’s always in town.”
Tom: *Pause* “Guess you haven’t heard.”
John: “Heard what?”
Tom: *Silence*
John: “Heard what?!”
Tom: “He’s mayor now.”
John: *Silence*
Tom: “Come on John, cheer up. Look on the bright – the night’s young, and you do have a new lady friend now.” *Smiles slyly*
John: “Do I?” *Looks at Karla questioningly*
Karla: *Noticing John’s gaze, smiles* “Maybe… Maybe not. Right now I have other matters on my mind. My dear Tom, can you tell me who that man is? He sure looks familiar.” *Points to the man on the other side of the bar*
Tom: “Don’t quite know miss, all I did was serve him. Never gave a name.”
*John and Karla look towards the man across the bar.*
*Mysterious man looks back, holding their gaze.*
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Art stories are written art pieces (stories, screenplays, poems, etc.) about visual art pieces (paintings, sculpture, photos, etc.).
We live in a remix culture; one that takes the old and adds something new on top of it, one that takes the old and rearranges it into a new work of art… one that builds something new while recognizing the importance of the old.
I created art stories to help both writers and visual artists further develop their skills by restricting them within certain limits. It’s a collab process that pushes the visual artist to create art that serves a purpose; art that speaks something worth hearing. And one that pushes the writer to hear and write down one of the many stories the visual art piece is conveying. It’s a collab in the sense that 1 + 1 = 3, true synergy.
The project is still in the works, but I couldn’t contain myself and had to give y’all a little taste. I love art. It’s a big part of life and of discovering oneself afterall. I’ll be bringing more of it to dancePROOF.