Releasing the Spirit

Print Method: Giclée
Edition: 99
Released: July 2009

Many of us have a tendency to keep things bottled up. We go through day-to day stresses at work and at home and don’t have an opportunity to vent. The fortunate ones can turn to something as simple as music and change one’s entire mood. Whether it’s the soulful melody of a jazz tune or the raucous bass of some metal, it gets our feet tapping. It can be the heartfelt pound of a drum, the first buzz of a bagpipe, the clack of castanets, a mesmerizing riff on guitar, the raspy voice of a horn, a trance-inducing synth, or the angelic tone of a choir. Whether it be all of these things or only one of these things, it is perfect for “releasing the spirit.”

Sometimes when you hear music, your body simply has to move. Your feet start to jolt and your hands may start to tremble. You feel an electricity go up and down your spine as your head starts to bob. Soon, you are dancing.... From ballroom to latin to hip hop to tap to swing to jive to line to two-step to letting your body move in a carefree whirlwind, we are “releasing the spirit.”

I am truly fortunate to be born into a culture in which singing and dancing are so important. Without the ability to carry on our ancestral songs and perform our age-old movements, our culture would be a mere shadow of itself. I am grateful that performance amongst our people is so integral to “releasing the spirit.”

As a singer and as a dancer, I relish the opportunity to perform for people from both inside and outside of my culture. I have to say: thank you for letting me sing to you, thank you for letting me dance for you, thank you for “releasing the spirit.”

"Releasing the Spirit” is a limited edition print using the giclée method of printmaking. This print was released in July of 2009 and printed by Andy Everson at the artist’s own studio in Comox B.C. A total of 109 prints bear the title “Releasing the Spirit” and are signed by Andy Everson: 99 in the primary edition bearing the numbers 1/99 through 99/9; 9 Artist’s Proofs; and 1 Printer’s Proof. The acid-free Moab Entrada 100% cotton rag paper measures about 17x22 inches. Image size measures about 12.8x19.5 inches.