Overview

Several years after William Meredith sustained a major stroke, well-meaning friends and therapists suggested that art therapy might be helpful to develop motor skills for the affected hand. We'd heard of a legendary teacher from Montgomery College and approached her about taking William on as a student. That interaction grew into a lifetime friendship which brings us to the present exhibition sponsored by the William Meredith Foundation. It turned out that motor coordination was not the problem to be dealt with. William's aphasia made understanding intellectual concepts difficult - negative space, anatomical accuracy, and all the technical requirements of sculpture were difficult to grasp for him. Nancy had a remarkable talent for reaching him, trapped under ice, as it were, and they did the dance teacher and student engage in when learning happens at its best. And characteristically, William moved on to other challenges with language once he had completed several rather remarkable portrait sculptures. Their friendship abided, however and resulted in years of travel to Bulgaria, Florida, New England, and Europe. Nancy had become family. Friends love her for her modesty, intellectual honesty, and spiritual authority. She really is something of a ""wise woman,"" and lends her opinion at bible study at the crack of dawn each Thursday morning before returning home to teach. She plans to be ""roomates"" with her friend Lizzy at the Columbarium at St. Columba Episcopal Church and despite the friends who have dropped off the planet lately, she remains committed to life's pleasures. Again, as Meredith writes in ""His Plans for Old Age,"" He is founding a sect for the radical old, freaks you may call them but you're wrong, who persist in being at home in the world, who just naturally feel it's a good bind to be in, let the young feel as uncanny as they like. And another poet comes to mind when I consider the realistic, accepting and balanced view of where she stands at this point in her life. At the end of her poem, ""When Death Comes,"" Mary Oliver writes: When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms. When it's over, I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument. I don't want to end up simply having visited this world. Nancy doesn't have to worry in this regard. She has more than made of her life ""something particular and real."" The sculptures remain a testament to her sterling intelligence and unique view of reality and the world. Everyone who loves her is so grateful that this charming girl turned into the woman we all admire. As Meredith says of Simone de Beauvoir in her ""civilized Gallic gloom: "" ""may she be loved and beautiful without wrinkles until it takes carbon dating to determine her age."" And may she continue to entertain us with her beautiful work for years to come.

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2007 to Present President William Meredith Foundation, Inc. dedicated to preserving the legacy of America's great poet and maintaining his residence, Riverrun, designated as an historical landmark by the State of Connecticut. Responsible for all aspects of fund-raising and administration. Supervision of visiting fellows, publication projects and art exhibitions. The foundation recently established an auxiliary venture to publish the annual William Meredith Award for Poetry and new titles from younger poets. He has served as President and Artistic Director of Poets' Choice Publishing since 2013. Complete information at www.Poets-Choice.com and w w w .WilliamMeredithFoundation .org 2008 - Produced 35-mm, 90-minute film based on his memoir first published by W.W. Norton, MARATHON. Secured North American and UK and Netflix distribution. The film was accepted as official selection for 10 major international film festivals, winning awards in N.Y., Las Vegas, LA, and Mexico City. 1996 to 2007 Free-lance writer US and Europe with occasional teaching duties at Three Rivers College, The Bread Loaf Writers' conference, the Prague Summer Writing Program and various poetry festivals in theUS and Europe. 1995 to 1996 American University in Bulgaria Fulbright Poet-in-residence at the American University in Bulgaria. During the academic year, Mr.Harteis taught courses in writing and translation and advised students on literary publications. His new and selected poems, KEEPING HEART was published in a bi-lingual edition and the University sponsored a country-wide tour to introduce the book. Before returning to the United States, he was given Bulgarian recognition of his work in cultural affairs in the country. He was awarded a fellowshipat the Camargo Foundation in Cassis in southern France to spend January-May of 1997 in residence at thewriter's retreat where he completed his novel, SAPPHIRE DAWN. Nancy's early life began as a waiter in the borscht belt each summer earning her college tuition as an art student at the Temple University and later Columbia. As a young bride, she accompanied her husband to Germany where she continued her studies with Hans Hoffman at the Munich Art Academy. Sadly, Nancy's husband died prematurely after their return to the US leaving her with two small children to support. Her peace-activist daughter and architect son have each learned from this formidable mother and produced a number of grandchildren who lean on her for the counsel and support only grandmothers can provide. I think of William Meredith's poem when I consider her love of family:

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