Sticks, Stones, & Sunder
Five room installationcreated in an abandoned school house
in playful collaboration with children
from Jetpur Village, Rajasthan, India
during Kaman Art Foundation’s
Sowing Seeds Residency
Dec 2012 - Jan 2013
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6849908c6d93a78d63c61b3349b461ee3fee128c6cff3adc8dd824b7fc73ff26/8404865064_d6f68fc648_o.jpg)
Sunder (or Sundar) in Hindi means Beautiful.
![views of room 1](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8e61f582ac89148df1fad23720c790221d4f2c6691190325d78b488576c0fc2a/8403673415_c413fc4737_o.jpg)
![views of room 3](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1464efc49a84ca89f10d5d68390dc1fdd920280168bcaeaa67116ca1c67b93a3/8404815270_b4c520d34a_o.jpg)
![views of room 4](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/19356aa8bda4f45672b140449a84772776bea44d3564441d874a746cd0f06f30/8404814018_f5c897d5d3_o.jpg)
![detail view from room 4](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2d1c0d70a1cfd685841a0ac7b532c088c599952269ac2c062cf360553e2131ef/8391513300_ec8fda4e9a_o.jpg)
![children painting side by side](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f11c55729808d13a87223b798260997c1c87e3f28bbdb3b6418731e58258afd7/8390423673_81eb447d4b_o.jpg)
![views of room 5](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/47a7d359335c8d2744cb764c87150dac7873c90b31f022b54f88469c28c1e61a/triangle_together.jpg)
![views of room 5](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/66dfd989b64f11de1df36d0e498341e20732c117b6fda1497b07efc9100be402/8403674103_b9b2ef6fed_o.jpg)
Sticks, Stones, and Sunder
Warmth—skin blue.
Myself surfaced
acting as curtain
to more earthly lights,
tapped out in song
in swirling dirt drifts
among the headlights.
The distance between
here and there, a loss celebrated
in the blue of Shiva. Celestial
silhouettes laid out in unison.
Sunder. Beautiful. Distributed
in equal exchange.
--
facade: projected dominance
icons: vulnerable to misreading
--
An act can be a question, a purpose—art
when traced, lines on a surface
become vessels formulated
for meaning. Transcribed they
become difference. Lost
to translation, a connection grasped.
Joining in celebration, we dance.
--
facade: structure of acknowledgment
language: vulnerable to neglect
--
When you place its sharp edges
amongst the stones of a riverbed
it softens as a pillow
yet has no give. A net
offering as blanket
cast out to comfort, foreshadowing
its destination.
Take it with you,
Lift it out of the blessed waters
Carry it गृह. (translation: home)
--
Warmth—skin blue.
Myself surfaced
acting as curtain
to more earthly lights,
tapped out in song
in swirling dirt drifts
among the headlights.
The distance between
here and there, a loss celebrated
in the blue of Shiva. Celestial
silhouettes laid out in unison.
Sunder. Beautiful. Distributed
in equal exchange.
--
facade: projected dominance
icons: vulnerable to misreading
--
An act can be a question, a purpose—art
when traced, lines on a surface
become vessels formulated
for meaning. Transcribed they
become difference. Lost
to translation, a connection grasped.
Joining in celebration, we dance.
--
facade: structure of acknowledgment
language: vulnerable to neglect
--
When you place its sharp edges
amongst the stones of a riverbed
it softens as a pillow
yet has no give. A net
offering as blanket
cast out to comfort, foreshadowing
its destination.
Take it with you,
Lift it out of the blessed waters
Carry it गृह. (translation: home)
--
facade: barrier
between beings
materials: vulnerable to change
--
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will कभी hurt me.
You said they wouldn’t
get it. I said
I know (translation: never)
Distance traveled in expectation.
stones left behind
not as expressions of mourning,
instead, protection ahead of time.
--
facade: reveals itself with labels
skin: contrived amongst school walls
--
In a five-part beat, I accept my
place dripping new shades of red-
brown through my extensions,
blue pooling at my feet.
Tribhuj. Triangle. Together
a reformed star,
bearing equal measure.
Satyam Shivam Sunderam. Beautiful.
--
Welcoming shifts in
(mis)understanding, entry extends
from one space
to another and holds.
Collisions, noticed
become natural.
Cracks necessary.
and strong.
- Stacy Isenbarger
materials: vulnerable to change
--
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will कभी hurt me.
You said they wouldn’t
get it. I said
I know (translation: never)
Distance traveled in expectation.
stones left behind
not as expressions of mourning,
instead, protection ahead of time.
--
facade: reveals itself with labels
skin: contrived amongst school walls
--
In a five-part beat, I accept my
place dripping new shades of red-
brown through my extensions,
blue pooling at my feet.
Tribhuj. Triangle. Together
a reformed star,
bearing equal measure.
Satyam Shivam Sunderam. Beautiful.
--
Welcoming shifts in
(mis)understanding, entry extends
from one space
to another and holds.
Collisions, noticed
become natural.
Cracks necessary.
and strong.
- Stacy Isenbarger
![girl painting portrait of herself](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/54a3e506480a838a5478ce371504237d7669f3e3c424bc50e7b75186a25673c9/8391510678_4675f66ecc_o.jpg)
![Stacy Isenbarger with the painting crew from room 5](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d985d91e455766e5f8a67e671ec0ffb8500e7515cfd32ed0e6b3dba9b4db479d/8391506660_16a4a3c6ca_o.jpg)
More images from week long process HERE.