Explore Empowerment: Patreon Post, March 2025
Hello! I have a new, nerdy thing I am doing. I am exploring a word each month in a picture, a poem, and a song. I publish this on the Patreon platform, and post snippets of it here. Patreon is where I share my art and music in a thoughtful way. Make a monthly contribution on the platform to support the work, and the monthly newsletter is delivered to you by email. I know, I know, be still your beating heart. Learn more here.
Going with the theme of marching in March, here’s an exploration of the word Empowerment.
Painting
Rosa Parks: The Rosetta Stone to Equality
Empowerment is about what we don’t do, as well as what we do. When one person refused to budge, it created a path for more people to take action, which demanded a deeper conversation to take place. Because of Rosa Parks and other Civil Rights leaders, a break in a code of conduct led to a new language, one that allowed for dialogue and important change.
Poem
Power corrupts; empowerment erupts.
Yep, that’s it. That’s the poem.
It has taken me many complicated years to simplify. It reminds me of a paper I wrote in college, where we were asked to choose a painting in the Art Institute’s collection and write about it. I did mine on a John Singer Sargent painting of thistles. I waxed on and on and on trying to find a reason that Sargent painted thistles. The teacher’s comment on the front page read: “Brevity is the soul…” I remember reading it thinking, “OK you got me.” He didn’t even need to write, “of wit,” as I filled in the blank. He proved his point with his statement. I was chagrined.
Looking back I was being a bit of a smart alec, by choosing a painting which was particularly dry to write a paper on. Sergent is known for his high society portraits of people, executed with lively brush work, but one day, he decided to paint some thistles. This was the time of Impressionism: subjects were flowers and the outdoors, haystacks even (ask Monet). But thistles? Thistles are so rough, plain and decidedly unpleasing that it’s totally out of step with the times which were about sensory experiences, beauty, relaxation, color, and light.
After learning more about the artist, my theory on this painting is that Sergent was simply sick of painting people, and all the putting on airs that went with it. He just wanted to paint something–anything!–other than a person, and he chose a thistle as his own mini rebellion and relief.
You can see how I can go on and on, and need to remember, brevity is the soul…
Song
Jack-A-Roe (Traditional)
This is a traditional folk tune dating back to the 1800s in North America, Britain, Ireland and Scotland. I added one verse.
You can listen at this link: Stream Jack a Roe (Traditional Folk Tune) Version by Hannah Frank by Hannah Public Radio or below:
Hannah Frank is an indie-singer-songwriter in Chicago. Support more fine art and folk music by contributing on the Patreon platform and get the snazzy newsletter, check it out here.