Ina Donna (2019) by MaijaHynninen

Ina Donna Coolbrith (March 10, 1841 – February 29, 1928) was an American poet based in San Francisco. She was a prominent figure in the literary circles, but forced due financial reasons to work long hours as a librarian. Some of her poetry reflect on the longing for a life where she could have focused on her own writing – some of it is frantically merry.

After reading Coolbrith’s work (https://archive.org/), rather than concentrating on one poem I wanted to make a portrait of her. I chose texts that I loved and that would be different in character, presenting and juxtaposing some of her most prominent thoughts. It was not easy to be a female artist in those days. But as I read along, the same thoughts about not getting ones voice heard or taken seriously surround female artist even today. In that perspective
Coolbrith’s writing is still current.

Juxtaposing Coolbrith’s poetry and my music, there are fragments of an antiphon by Hildegard von Bingen O viridissima virga, woven into the textures of Ownership.

The moon is in all its mystery and power spectacular! The moon is also something unreachable – something that one tries to reach for, but never fully does. I also wanted to have a moon in my piece, so I 3D printed one. There is a light source inside and it is controlled by the computer. The video playing in the middle of the piece is of making a moon lamp and is addressing the idea of making something that is not reachable – much like I feel that art is. We try to make something that is in some dimension unconscious and escaping all analysis and explanations. While reading her poetry, I felt strongly that Ina Coolbrith was yearning for having time and space to write, but couldn’t reach it due to her financial situation. She is looking through a window and seeing “How sweeter than all sweet it is”.