Sundance 2003 - Heartbeat of the Silver Rainbow

Since 1996 I have been producing a painting that is auctioned in the Sundance Live Auction and from which smaller prints have been made. This year’s painting is called Heartbeats and is a little different from the others in both technique and concept. The first Sundance was a 10th anniversary party for Steve Elkins and me. This year it is our 25th, and thus we come back to our Sundance roots with an underlying silver anniversary theme, even though the party itself ceased to be about us a very long time ago.

In Heartbeats I used our 25 years as a base on which to create 25 hearts, each one a different texture, style, and color. It is my hope that the painting speaks far beyond a personal experience, however. It is about the passage of time, and the shape that love takes in our lives. Some of the hearts are crisp, clean edged, some so deeply layered and textured they almost become something else. Some are bright colored, others are more muted. One of them I had Steve draw in the wet paint. Another stands out in stark black and white.

My sister, the artist Mary Beth Ramsey is responsible for the beautiful Sundance graphics. This year she has used the little squares from the painting, each one containing a heart, in different ways. Sometimes they appear as in the painting, sometimes reduced to simple, graphic images, as can be seen on this year’s t-shirt and gift bag. Each one provides a rhythm, a beat, a heartbeat, to the materials on which it is used.

For me, Sundance has always been a matter of the heart. Every year has been a witness to the extraordinary generosity within our community. Sundance was born out of love and has grown in love over the years. Just look at the hundreds of people who support the event as Sponsors, Supporters, Hosts, volunteers, and auction donors.

Back in the 80s when Sundance began, AIDS was devastating our community and many of us felt we had to do something to combat the despair, frustration, and pain we experienced watching our friends and loved ones die. I am discouraged now when I read that the infection rates among young gay men have risen considerably over the last couple of years, and I know that our work is not yet done.

Sundance has not been just an AIDS fundraiser for many years now. It also raises funds that support the ongoing programs of CAMP Rehoboth. The vision of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center is to be the "heart of the community," to provide health and wellness programs; support, education and outreach programs; networking and information resources; and fundraising. The symbol of the Community Center is a house and a heart.

We can, of course, have all the heart symbols in the world, but they don’t amount to much without the people who bring them to life. Sundance, Sussex County AIDS Committee, CAMP Rehoboth—nothing but words without the lifeblood of people who give of their time, talents, energy, and financial resources to keep them alive.

Looking back over the years of Sundance, I remember so many people who sound in my memory like beating hearts. Some are constant and still vibrant, some are fading memories. Some have been hosts of Sundance for all of its 16 years, and others are new to Rehoboth, eager to connect and make new friends. Sundance is about connecting. It’s about the way we come together as human beings to ensure that the beat never dies, that life for each of us continues to sparkle and shine. When people give of themselves to one another, they create magic—a true magic—grounded in love and respect for one another.

Obviously, Sundance is a special occasion for me. I think, judging by its success over the years, that it is a special occasion for many others as well. Can I possibly write an impartial article about it? Of course not. All of my emotions—and my heart—are involved. Over the years I have laughed, cried, rejoiced, and despaired over every tiny bit of it. Quite often its themes are tied into my art. My favorite part is always walking out on the floor for one last look right before we open the doors for the dance. The floor is powdered, the lights and decorations are set, there’s a little fog in the air, and tiny reflections from the 36" mirror ball dance lightly over the room. If I’ve done my job well, I’m done, for the most part and baring any unforseen accidents, until the next morning when it all has to come down again.

The best part of all, of course, is the friends and family who make it all work. And the very best part of that is the man who keeps me going, and whose love provides the base for it all. Happy Anniversary Steve, I love you forever.

Sundance 2003 is a two night event at the Rehoboth Convention Center on Labor Day weekend. Saturday, August 30, from 7:00-10:00 p.m., is the auction—both silent and live—with a cocktail buffet coordinated by the Blue Moon Restaurant, and an open bar. Sunday,