While the immortal William Shakespeare may have written, “The eyes are the window to your soul,” I beg to differ. For while we can hide within even the most direct of glances, the voice doesn’t lie. This is something that I have been thinking about in recent conversations with my friend Vickie, who is dipping into the realm of author’s reading their work (her book is coming out on June 1, so more of that anon).
Where does your voice live in your body? Is it something that you give much thought to? As a former theatre actress, I most certainly have in my day, for it is the most expressive tool in our art. And yet, my voice has changed enormously since moving to France. It took me a few years to realize it, actually. I would only drop back into that deep alto on visits home to the States. The rest of the time my pitch was nearly an octave higher as I questioningly tested words and verb tenses. Gone was that reassuring flow. And it stayed that way for many years as I learned and struggled and stumbled with a very difficult language. And today? Well, I suppose that my voice has settled with time and the confidence that comes with age into somewhere in-between. It seems like there is a lot of the in-between in my life these days and that too I have to assume, to be more sure (for when are we ever 100% certain of anything) and listen keenly to another voice, my inner one.
All the better to see you with, my dear.
As for artistic voices? To live a creative life is fascinating and challenging with many colors that blend seamlessly into one another. It takes enormous courage to put yourself out there over and over again, sometimes only to be repeatedly dealt the brutal blow of rejection. But such a life is not chosen, it chooses you. This is why I have such enormous respect for those who endure. I was incredibly inspired by an article on Flavorwire featuring “10 creative women over 80 you should know.” I thought that you might be too.
These women are not bogged down by the cult of personality and none of them are afraid of their vision, their voice. The windows to their souls are dazzlingly clear.
Dear Heather,
First?…..you can rid your questing mind of any lingering doubts as to whether Shakespeare wrote that "The eyes are the window to the/your soul".
He didn't. Definitely, in fact, didn't. (trust me on this one; my M. Litt and second Masters degrees were in in 17th century literature).
The earliest permutation of the epigram is in Cicero's "Tusculan Disputations"….although there are any number of 19th century, shoddily-identified references to the line's being written by Shakespeare. It's one of those lines which have been so chronically misquoted or mis-attributed that there's no hope, at this late date, of ever squashing it….anymore than there's any use, finally, in wearily informing folks (particularly Americans) that "quote" is a verb, not a noun.
As for inspiring tales of Ye Olde Ladies?……
My longtime friend (I've known her since 1989, when she was a skeptical customer and I was her cynical waiter at what we both recognized as an enterprisingly bad Italian restaurant), Elizabeth Spencer just turned 92. She became famous in the late 50's with the publication of her novella "Light in the Piazza" (which was later made into a very popular movie and, more recently, a successful Broadway musical). She's always been beloved and admired by her peers and critics, but everyone sort of assumed that "The Southern Woman" (published in 1992, I think) would be her last book (she was, after all, 82 at the time).
Well, she called up her publisher this past Fall and chipperly announced that, surprise-of-surprises, she had a brand-spanky-new, freshly-minted collection of stories she hadn't really told anyone about. "Starting Over" came out recently (once again, to great acclaim…..google the glowing, reverential reviews in the New York Times, etcetera).
She's coming here (driving herself from Chapel Hill, thank you) for lunch with ten other folks in two weeks. All of them are friends who can be relied upon NOT to pester her to sign books while she's trying to eat her timbale.
As for old age?…..Elizabeth told me (in her very pronounced, even after decades of her living in Italy and/or Canada, Mississippi accent), a few months ago when I learned of the upcoming book, "OH…..I just stopped THINKING about how old I was when I turned 80. There's nuthin' to be done about it, and I have uh'thuh things to DO."
As Frances Mayes (no writing-slouch, herself, and a neighbor….which is the only reason I know her personally) wrote to me yesterday: "Elizabeth is an inspiration to us all".
Google "Elizabeth Spencer". She is, indeed, an inspiration (also, I should add, wickedly funny in that sotto-voce, ironic, "butter wouldn't melt in her mouth" way old-fashioned and Very Intelligent Southern Women often have).
Thanks for the lovely posting,
David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Not this group of sensitive souls, but on the eve of turning 74, might I draw your attention to the huge number of people and institutions who honor the great women in their 70s, 90s and so but have so little thought for or patience with us in the flesh and blood. I returned yesterday from an event in our honor, that had a 1/2 hour registration process/period, then a one hour drinks reception where middle age and a few younger chatted among them selves, in a very noisy hall, generally leaving honorees to make it to bar, be heard, get own drink and stand around, knowing nobody. Only after an hour and a half on our feet were we brought to the head table to be seated, later to be honored, making conversation w whomever beside us at long table, if we could be heard in a room full of chattering conversations and happy hoots at round tables in the hall. See also impatience with us when we need to use the bannister at the theatre to deal with the stairs, asking middle aged to break their hanging out on the bannister chat group, getting a "why don't you just stay home" look. I'm getting tired of being honored and would just like to be visible and accepted. Please spread the word and be on the lookout for similar habits and help me break them. Thanks so very much.
The colour in the first two photos just took my breath away. It takes courage to be an artist and put yourself out there time and time again. I wish I had that type of courage
As your "visitor from Concord, MA" you'll see me returning again and again to this post. There is so much here to think about. I do love "Coulda Woulda Shoulda's" comment that artists are true warriors. I have certainly seen that in a close friend who is a fine artist and in my son, a musician. And than, Maywyn Studio's suggestion is excellent. I have been trying to think of something new and different to do with my blog and her idea that you include voice recordings is an excellent one for you. I have always been impressed when I've heard your alto on the little videos. And agree that, yes, blogging is a great way to find one's voice. How I wish I'd had access to this about 20 years ago when I was going through a real life-changing experience and wrote several essays that never saw the light of day and if they still exist are hidden in a drawer somewhere.
"Creative woman over 80!" What a great article! A rare focus in our society. I saw Angès Varda in… was it 2010 when she presented her film "The beaches of Agnès" á l' Institut Francais á Cologne où j'ai appris le Francais at the time.
I tell you, she was the only relaxed and focused person in the audience. Everybody including the director of the Institute was going crazy. In fact she held a long speach and somehow you could see that it was just only her work that mattered and everything else was blanked out. You could see her trouble with age because she was walking with crutches. She did not show her troubles and her view was focused.
I was impressed and I thought, here is a role model!
And of course Faith Ringold, mother of Michelle Wallace, author of "Invisibility Blues". Faith Ringolds Story Quilts are amazing. What a life, what a story!
This is how I want to become old. But there is still a lot of work to do…
Thank you for the interesting link and of course for your fotos and wonderful thoughts!
I think life is a process of finding your voice, again and again and again.
I can. And I love you too. I will keep saying how grateful I am to have you in my life until the day that I can say it in person!
Glad this did…what it was supposed to?
Absolutely! And I am certainly not great at hiding my thoughts and feeling either. I love to observe people. It was obviously really informative when I was an actress but then when I moved to France, I couldn't speak a word of French and so would spend entire evenings just watching people at dinner parties. I could often see things that were far more telling than the words. And so even now, at times if I have a doubt about someone, I will consciously "turn off the volume" and just look or hear the tone of their voice instead of the words.
Oooh, what a thought! But if I could have an ounce of the melifluous Toni Morrison's voice I would be one happy lady indeed…
And I thought of you while publishing this…because you are probably the only person that I know who actually DID choose a creative life!
Wow. I had honestly never, ever thought of that! I will consider it, especially if it seems right for the post.
Thank you, I am flattered that you suggested this…