DSM Speaks Audio Tour with Josie Shaw, Community Member

Run Time: 1:22
Recorded by Josie Shaw, CultureALL Community Ambassador / 2022

I see the water as symbolizing us people today. There is a cloudy background because while we know a lot about us people and our history and background, there are a lot of mysteries that we are still unaware of and are still to uncover. The water flowing at the top is symbolic of our childhood and younger years. We face a lot of challenges and obstacles as we prepare for adulthood. The ledge marks our graduation, right before we start off with our “real life” with jobs and daily adult responsibility. At this point gravity takes over, creating this elaborate, amazing waterfall. It is symbolic of the rat race that is life today. The water suddenly stops at the bottom. The sudden stop at the bottom is symbolic of how Covid stopped us all in our tracks. After Covid, the water flows but now much more gentler like how people have slowed down and created a more work-life balance than ever before but we keep marching on. 

Josie Shaw Bio

Josie Shaw was born and raised in Kenya and attended Central Missouri University for Film and Broadcasting. Josie works as a freelance Swahili interpreter and an African refugees advocate.

DES MOINES SPEAKS

DSM Speaks are short audio reflections on artwork in our permanent collection, written and voiced by diverse members of our community. Contributors to this program were selected in partnership with CultureALL and the Des Moines Art Center. We hope by elevating these diverse ways of seeing we can encourage all visitors to connect more deeply and to see themselves and their identities within our walls.