Poster Image
$20
Item#: 2008SYR09
Purchase Details
11x17-inches, printed on heavy weight (100-pound) Hammermill cover paper. We package each print with a piece of chipboard in a clear plastic sleeve.
You also receive…
An information page with photos of the artist and poet, and hand-written comments from each.
Medium- and large-format posters are available by custom order. Contact us for details.
Poem Inspiration Location
Fenced in Glory Hoops
poster information
Description
Fenced in glory hoops
leap in air toward heaven
endless chatter scores
I used to come down to Onondaga Park a lot to walk. Frequently, I would watch the guys play basketball. There was always a lot of talking and laughing and changing the rules and making up rules and showcasing that went along with the game. It was just a joyous time; a fun time. A lot of people with different lifestyles and life stories came together and played ball, leaving all their differences behind.
I wanted to throw some light on an event not seen by the majority of Syracusans. Normally, African Americans were the primary players. The glory hoops -- you know, a lot of kids dream of playing professional sports. Their dreams may never become a reality. So these are their glory times, and this is their stage.
College basketball is hands down the best sport to watch and follow. Born and raised in North Carolina, I have always been a UNC fan. Once I came to Syracuse, it quickly became apparent that college basketball was a big deal within the Syracuse community. So I went with the haiku that I believed would capture the interest of the local downtown public, and myself.
I tried to capture the drama and uncertainty of the moment. The uncertainty of the dunk going in or being blocked or the guy on the bottom right taking the charge -- it all adds to the drama.
I started with a light pencil sketch, did all the color, then went back over the watercolor with graphite to define the details.