Jim Pollock Projects

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
South Dakota Plein Aire Artists Collaboration
May 7 and 8, 2005, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Jim Pollock Art main page Projects/Events main page
South Dakota Plein Aire Artists (SDPAA) were invited by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) to sketch, paint and interpret music through their art during the last concert of the 2004-2005 season. The concert featured world renowned violinist Sarah Chang playing with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.

Following Sarah Chang's part in the concert, participating artists were asked to set up their easels and sketch or paint as the orchestra played PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION by Modest Mussorgsky. Artists were free to interpret the music or concert in any manner they chose. To my knowledge this mixing of live music and artists painting live on stage in front of a public audience was the first of its kind in South Dakota. The artists, musicians and audience alike enjoyed this event and reports have been overwhelmingly positive. I hope the success of this innovative project will help to encourage more events of this nature in the future.

On behalf of myself and the other participating artists, I would like to thank Music Director Delta David Gier and SDSO staff members Tom Bennett, Linda Clement, and Rebecca Simonz for their vision and for allowing this innovative event to happen. A special thanks to Rebecca Simonz SDSO and Steve Randall SDPAA for their work in notifying and coordinating the artists. South Dakota Plein Aire Artists who participated in this project were Jessica Joy Jirsa, Karen Kinder, Mary Sobolik Petersen, Larry Piersol, Jim Pollock, Stephen H. Randall and Connie Wagenaar-Henning.
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May 1--May 6, 2005--Jim Pollock Interpretation of PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION by composer Modest Mussorgsky --.PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION was composed by Modest Mussorgsky for the piano in 1874. In 1922 Maurice Ravel adapted the music for orchestra. This piece of music is based on art produced by Victor Hartman, a friend of composer Mussorgsky. Whereabouts of most of the work that originally inspired the piece is unknown.

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION describes with music someone walking from painting to painting at an art exhibition.

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra sent their recording of PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION to artists prior to the concert. Participating artists were invited to interpret the music and bring their interpretation to the concert. I did some research on the music and from Sunday May 1 through Thursday May 5 I did my interpretation of 13 of the movements. Like the music actually does, I tried to use the Promenades visually as a unifying element for the various picture subjects. I did the promenade images at one sitting, before I interpreted the other movements. Each Promenade was done in a similar style and with similar colors yet each is different. After completing the promenades I did my interpretation of each of the musical movements that represented a different painting at the exhibition. I did not have time to do The Hut on Fowl's Leg, the Witch. Possibly I will do it in the future and post it along with the other interpretations I did.

My thirteen images based on PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION include: Promenade, Gnomus, Promenade, The Old Castle, Promenade, Tuileries, Bydlo, Promenade, Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks, Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle, Promenade, Limoges-The Market, Catacombs, (The Hut on Fowls Legs home of Witch Baba-Yaga is missing) and The Great Gate of Kiev (which I interpreted as an embellished Promenade with people walking through the gates). Media used was pastel, charcoal, pen and ink, watercolor, conte, gouache and other misc. media. Some research indicates the original exhibit was watercolors. This may have been, but I was not trying to recreate the original exhibit, only my interpretation of the exhibit through the music.

May 7, 2005--Sketches of Violinist Sarah Chang During Saturday Afternoon Rehearsal --.Artists were required to attend at least one rehearsal. I chose the May 7, Saturday afternoon rehearsal. During the actual concert, while violinist Sarah Chang was to give her performance, we were asked to sit with the audience and not do any art. During the rehearsal no one seemed to mind that the artists were at their easels and working. Sketching Sarah Chang at rehearsal was for me one of the highlights of this event. I was located on one of the wings of the The Great Hall in the Washington Pavillion of Arts and Science. She was dressed informal and had her back to me as she played. She was so animated, I tried to capture her movement and unique way of throwing her hair as she played the violin so beautifully. These are the six sketches I completed of Sarah Chang at work.

May 7, 2005--Sketches of Orchestra During Saturday Afternoon Rehearsal --.Sketches of orchestra and Delta David Gier, Music Director for the Sioux Falls Symphony. I was located on the left wing of the Great Hall located in the Washington Pavillion.

May 7, 2005--Sketches of Orchestra During Saturday Night Concert --.Sketches of orchestra and Delta David Gier, Music Director for the Sioux Falls Symphony. I was located on the left wing of the Great Hall located in the Washington Pavillion, same place as in rehearsal.

May 8, 2005--Sketches of Orchestra During Sunday Afternoon Concert --.Sketches of orchestra and Delta David Gier, Music Director for the Sioux Falls Symphony. Jessica Joy Jirsa I changed locations for the Sunday Afternoon concert and I was located on the Right wing of the Great Hall located in the Washington Pavillion.