The Glorious Way She Moves: Gracie Poe-Etched V.E. 2/25

The Glorious Way She Moves explores the fullness and depth of the female form from youthful innocence to glorious maturity. As a woman of color, I strive to address the malapropos labels placed upon my culture, race and the feminine gender, while bringing women into a magnified view that recognizes our magnificence as multi-faceted human beings. These interpretive portraits illustrate the exuberance and individuality of each muse I celebrate, capturing the poise and spirit by which they pay homage to the legacy of generations of women who came before them. These portraits symbolically exemplify the self-esteem that women of color exude as they move through their lives and the world.

In my process, I video record each woman dancing, then jump to the film's individual frames, using them to help me expose and capture my subjects' unique character and individuality. During their dance, I specifically look for physical and expressive nuances my subjects demonstrate, then use these individual signature movements to reveal each subjects' aesthetic. By doing this I experience a connection to their beauty without stereotyping. It is that connection I share in my work.

Gracie Poe is a dynamic African American senior citizen. Poe is a retired retail fashion merchandise manager, was one of the founders of San Antonio Queen of Soul, and served 3 times as San Antonio Ethnic Art Society President. She currently works a sculptor whose work is inspired by her African heritage. When it comes to dancing she says: "I can't be contained."

13.75 x 6.25"