The Sound of Sculpture

The following was a simple post I made for the weekly Rotary Club of Des Moines bulletin. Posts like these are supposed to be quick recaps of the week's meeting.  I include it here because I am rather proud of the first paragraph.

If you have ever been downtown at twilight, you know how the setting sun makes the Pappajohn Sculpture Park glow. The best place to be at that moment is near Post Balzac by Judith Shea. The darkness of the empty overcoat deepens as the final shafts of the day’s light disappear into what could be infinite black space lurking inside the exaggerated piece of clothing. If you clear your mind and listen as lights begin to illuminate the park from circles in the ground and nature’s orange fades, for an instant you will hear what sculpture sounds like.

Capturing that sound is exactly what Joseph Giunta set out to do when he and the Des Moines Symphony commissioned Symphony in Sculpture to celebrate the Symphony’s 75th anniversary. Giunta played the movement of this work that was inspired by Shea’s Post Balzac to a captivated Rotary Club today. This movement is one of nine that make up the work, but it was enough to remind Rotarians who know and to help explain to the uninitiated why the Des Moines Symphony is the remarkable asset it is to our region. This year brings not only the Symphony’s diamond anniversary, but Joseph Giunta’s 24th year as its conductor. In the coming weeks the Symphony will celebrate all things Drake with concerts on April 13 and 14 as it remembers its beginning in 1937 as the Drake Des Moines Community Symphony Orchestra. Rotarians were encouraged to attend Symphony events and to purchase the soon to be released DVD, Symphony in Sculpture.

Giunta was joined during the presentation by Rotarian Richard Early who serves as the Symphony’s executive director. Both men marveled how Des Moines has made it possible for the Des Moines Symphony to soar to such great heights as far too many symphonies across the nation fail. One has to agree with Giunta – Des Moines creates an uncommon atmosphere where arts, business, and education come together to make extraordinary things possible. Judging by the long list of Rotarians who have served on the board of the Symphony, as board president or who are season ticket holders, it is obvious many already know this not well kept secret.

Rotary business included a plea by president-elect Dick Reasons to donate shoes for children of South Africa before next week. Based on the number of shoes he is planning to take to the District Conference on April 11, it is fair to assume Dick has a really big car with a sizable trunk. Let’s make him rent a trailer by donating before the 11th. More information can be found on the Club website. Also, there is a sign-up sheet for those interested in volunteering for the Drake Relays on April 26, 27 and 28. Sunny skies, a warmer temperature and a few visible, albeit tentative, green tentacles poking through the flower gardens at Wakonda’s entrance convinced Rotarians leaving today’s meeting Spring may arrive after all.

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