ROSY PETRI
En Pointe: Detroit Dancer, fabric portrait stretched over canvas, 24”x48”, 2021
En Pointe: Detroit Dancer is a homage to the artistry of a young Black ballerina captured in a 100-year-old photograph. Inspired by viewing Edgar Degas’s sculpture “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen,” I wanted to combine the striking imagery of the child’s masterful technique with a dynamic and dimensional fabric portrait. In addition to the three dimensional nature of the tutu, one of the most striking things about the composition is her eyes. A century ago, a little black girl dressed in costume went out on the street in her costume and stared into a photographer’s lens with all of the confidence of her technique. I wanted to bring her radiance and strength into contemporary view.
Why Water Street?
I am thrilled to be included in Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s Water Street collection. Planned Parenthood has a special place in my heart, where I was able to access health screenings and resources for myself and friends when we couldn’t access other health services due to cost. Planned Parenthood health screenings let me know I was safe, healthy and allowed me agency over my body. Later, when I was ready to become a mother, I received prenatal care and wonderful resources to begin my journey. I’m grateful to the organization for the dignified care and services they provide to all community members, and they will always have my support.
More about the artist:
I am a self-taught artist fusing printmaking, photography, and multimedia storytelling into my fiber arts practice. Inspired by the sacred art and architecture of churches and cathedrals, I create contemporary iconography seasoned with Black history, music, and culture. Part autobiography, part documentary, my work is about self-discovery, history, and radical Black Joy. It is important for me to acknowledge that my ancestors are the descendants of the survivors of the Middle Passage. In my art, I hope to honor the ancestors (known and forgotten) by carrying on cultural traditions as they have manifested in my life. My work is an offering of rhythm, color, and celebration for them.
