Welcome back! I'm Cheryl-Ann Webster, artist and creator of the Beautiful Women Project, and it is my honor to introduce you to all 120 life-size clay sculptures, and the women's stories
behind them. Today i bring you "Belly Drummer" "Belly Drummer" We all have a rhythm within us. It is the song of your heart and soul.
Feel your rhythm learn your song, and find a way to sing out loud. When i first met "Belly Drummer" all I could do was smile. She warmed my heart and soul even
before we got to say "hello" to each other. I was at a drum camp with over 100
women learning instruments of all kinds. Some women have brought their own and
they were drumming on djembe drums.
Others brought didgeridoos, tambourines And then the instructors brought a whole array of things for us to try. The idea was to explore our inner rhythm and to sing the song of our soul out loud. I had some troubles finding mine, But "Belly Drummer" found her's immediately As i watched the women
with great big smiles on their face choosing instruments and trying different things and supporting and encouraging each other I turned to see "Belly Drummer"
and where she found her music was right on her body.
I watched her
as she played the drum of her belly. She didn't need an instrument brought by
anybody else. She had brought her own. The rhythm was inside of her and she found
it with the palms of her hands gently patting her belly. And as she drummed,
I could hear it louder and louder. This beautiful song but come right from
within her and out shared to the world. I could swear it was louder than
the other 100 djembe drums. At least to my ears and to my heart it was. "Belly Drummer" stayed with the
project for quite some time, She would turn up exhibits and support me.
She would turn up and speak to people about her experience being in the project and
proudly show off her sculpture. During one of the anniversary celebrations of
the project she came and spoke to a whole crowd of people telling them not
only about her experiences with the project but how the impact of being one
of the sculptures has really stayed with her.
I decorated "Belly Drummer" with water
in mind and leaves floating on the surface. Dancing with the rhythm of the
water as they drifted away. When my phone rang one day
and it was "Belly Drummer" I was thrilled! So excited to hear her news.
So happy that she made contact. But our news wasn't happy. My heart broke as she announced to me
that she was dying. I've lost other Beautiful Women
through over the years. I guess it's expected when you've been on tour this long. But none of them had the chance to call
and tell me that they're passing away. That in a couple of months they would be gone, and the only thing left of their
physical form would be the sculpture I created, for the Beautiful Women Project. I do not have the words
to explain to you how profound it was to realize the sculpture in my hands, crafted by my hands from a cast of her body
would be what I would carry on to represent a physical self of "Belly Drummer"
from now to eternity.
I wished her "goodbye" and I sent
photographs so that her and her wife could have them printed and have them on
display at the funeral at their request. Then I took "Belly Drummer" to an ancient
forest here on Vancouver Island. It's called Cathedral Grove.
And I stood her among the 800 year old trees. She looks so small there.
But her spirit was far from small. As I placed her in the forest I was in awe by how much peace and calm I felt.
She had gone home to Mother Earth. She was at peace. And I can continue to honour her, and her story. Every time I think of "Belly Drummer", every time I see her sculpture, every time I talk about her, I can hear her song of her heart and soul
being played out on her belly. Louder than any 100 djembe drums. Just played with such joy
and excitement and acceptance.
I hope you too can hear the song of "Belly Drummer" Because we need to sing that song more often. Joy, love, and acceptance. Listen to your
own song. Listen to your heart and soul, and turn to those you love and sing it
to them. I will forever miss "Belly Drummer". Every exhibit I hope she walked through the door. Knowing that the next exhibit she will
not be able to walk through the door but knowing her sculpture will continue to
inspire and empower other women to truly love and celebrate who they are.
It's been my honor today to introduce you to "Belly Drummer"
May she rest in peace. It won't be long before I continue with
another story of one of the 120 Beautiful Women Project sculptures. I am honored to introduce you to each
and every one of them and I hope their lessons, their messages, and their lives
truly empower you as much as they have empowered me.
Take good care.
"Cheryl-Ann Webster".