Portrait of Sammy Baird in Dance

Sammy Baird was a local Kansas City dance instructor and vaudeville performer. This picture captures a profile view of Baird in a dramatic dancer's pose, effortlessly balanced on a single pointed toe with the other leg bent and the knee and lifted. She repeats the pose with her arms, holding her left arm raised in the air above her while her right arm grazes her right calf to conclude her overall balance. As if being held in a dip by an unseen dance partner, she looks behind her with her chin pointed skyward. She is garbed in an ethereal costume that lends an otherworldly air to the portrait. Hixon has edited the image to include a short, flippy hairstyle that remains in place despite Baird's pose. This portrait is a fine example of how Orval Hixon used his distinctive artistic technique to transform a single pose into a narrative image. By illuminating Baird's face using an electric lamp, Hixon created the illusion of a footlight, thereby evoking the drama of the stage. He also succeeded in subliminally highlighting Baird's impressing skill. A manipulation of the glass negative prior to making a print added a greater sense of visual and narrative depth to the work.
Portrait of Sammy Baird in Dance
Inventory
Collection Number
17667
Building
Current Location
Storage Room 303
Floor
Lower Level/Vault
Description
Details
The image seen here is a sepia toned photograph of dance instructor and performer, Sammy Baird.
Artist
Framed
Yes
 - Glass
Width
1 inch
Height
31 inches
Length
25 inches
Donor
Donor Name
James R. and Joyce A. Finely and Charles David and Linda Hixon
Library Owns
Yes
Permissions
Reproduce the Work in Library publications/publicity, including film or videotape
Yes
Reproduce
Library has Photography Rights
Yes
Photograph
Permit the general public to photograph the work
Yes
Slides/Video