Interview with an Artist: Willow Bader and Tango
by Gayle Picken
Figurative artist Willow Bader, known for her bold and sensual torsos and backs, has recently stepped onto the floor with a new series of paintings featuring the beauty and movement of the tango dance.
The combination of her chosen medium (encaustic) and the rich, luscious color palette she uses is particularly suited to the sensuality and subtlety of Tango. Her paintings capture the full range of intimacy and emotion of the dance, from the sweeping movement of the tango dance party to the dramatic performance of a single couple traveling across the floor.
I recently asked Willow a few questions about her involvement with tango dancing and how the new series of tango paintings came to be.
1. How long have you been interested in Tango dancing?
I never had an interest in tango until several artist friends in Philadelphia, (when I lived in Philadelphia to attend art school) started telling me about it. One friend in particular was supportive of my learning and looked into classes and we started taking the classes together, but when I saw how sensual the dance was I just about bolted out of class! But I kept at it and about three months into it I got hooked! I never knew how much I wanted to dance, and tango has turned out to be the perfect dance for me.
2. There are many different styles of tango…which style do you participate in?
I dance Argentine tango.
3. I understand that Seattle is considered one of the premier Tango scenes in North America.
Yes, it is a large and well established community here with lots of dance opportunities and a higher level of skill.
4. What’s the Seattle Tango Magic festival?
Tango Magic is a large tango festival in Seattle that happens during the last week of July. July 24th –July 28th Tango dancers come from all around the country to dance, take workshops, shop for tango shoes, and meet other tango dancers.
There are 28 classes to choose from. Eight milongas (tango dances), afternoon, evening and all night. There is even an outdoor milonga at the waterfront park in Kirkland, where one can sit on the grass and watch the tango dancing in the pavilion.
The Tango Magic festival is a very large tango event. I will be there but maybe not dancing all that much as I will be helping at the festival. I am hoping to have one of my tango images on a Tango Magic t shirt that will be available, as well as prints of some of my tango paintings.
5. How often do you dance?
I dance as often as I can, but my art career competes for my time. So more recently I am only getting out about once or twice a week.
6. What inspired you to start painting the tango series?
Painting tango just makes sense to me.
Often before when I painted without a model, I started with the feeling I wanted, and then searched for a way to paint it using the human figure as a subject. The feeling I was often trying to paint is the feeling I now experience when I dance tango. That centered, in the moment high, moving through space sensual intimacy that I love.
I was searching for a way to paint that feeling long before I even guessed I would dance tango, and now that I do it just makes perfect sense that I paint tango.
7. How has the tango community responded to your work?
I would say that the tango community has been a very supportive and receptive group of people. I get wonderful feedback on my work from tangeras and tangeros, (people who dance tango), they love the feeling I put into my paintings, that I dance the dance makes all the difference.
A woman in Australia recently wrote “It is wonderful to see images that conjure the true atmosphere of tango – no dramatic posing, no hats or fishnets – just the feeling that we experience every Friday night when we put on our tango shoes”.
Also, more and more often, I am getting opportunities from tango communities, nationally and internationally, who want to use images of my tango paintings on their web-sites and brochures while also helping me get the word out that I paint tango.
8. What other works have you focused on lately?
I am mostly painting tango but I am also enjoying exploring some local beach landscapes. I am very pleased with some these recent paintings.
9. What advice would you give to people who want to learn tango?
I would recommend taking classes on a weekly basis with a teacher who is good with beginning dancers. And then once you feel comfortable and you have some of the basics, get out on the dance floor as often as you can. But don’t expect to pick it up quickly; tango is an investment of time and effort.
Willow’s tango paintings along with her recent landscapes will be on display at Gallery by the Bay in Stanwood, WA from June 6th - 30th.
Join us for the Opening Reception and tango demonstrations on Friday, June 6th from 6 pm to 9 pm. Starting at 7: 30, Willow has arranged to have her tango friend Lachlan give a short talk about tango, followed by some demonstration performances by Michelle Badion and Vladimir and Marcia and Vilnis. And Willow might even step out on the floor and dance a tango with Lachlan!
