'Death and the Maiden' Program Features Argentinean Artist

Center Stage's terrific production of Ariel Dorfman's "Death and the Maiden" ends its successful run on Sunday, Nov. 26. Did you ever wonder how the artist of the work on the cover of the program was selected?

Well, it was strictly coincidental that I discovered that the artwork selected for the cover of Baltimore's Center Stage program of "Death and the Maiden" was done by an artist from Argentina who knows the Chilean playwright.

Following the performance I attended, there was an informal discussion taking place in the lobby of the theater where about ten theatergoers were discussing the politics of the play after seeing the riveting production.  Two members of the group were able to bring some expertise to the table, Brian and Helga Thomson. Both fled Argentina after the coup in 1976. Their personal experiences were profound and they didn't hesitate to compare the human rights violations of today with those in South America, first in Chile and then in Argentina.

It was only after that discussion that I discovered that Helga had created the artwork on the cover page of the Center Stage program. And it was only during my interview with the artist that I discovered that those piercing eyes in the artwork belonged to her!

Thomson is a professional print-maker in Bethesda who has a studio in her home and in Silver Spring.  In 2001, as part of an organization called the Central Asian Cultural Exchange, she joined a small group of artists who were invited to Uzbekistan to work with artists in the capital of Tashkent. While there, an artist took a close-up photo of Thomson which highlighted her eyes. Thomson loved it.

She then spent much time manipulating the photograph with various print-making techniques and finally finished the work in 2003.  She commented, "I liked the photo. It captured an amazing moment. It freezes moment and time."

Thomson then submitted the digital archival inkjet print now titled "Sunset Eyes II" as her signature piece in the massive Washington Project for the Art/Corcoran Artistic Directory 2006/2007 which features over 300 artists with examples of their individual work.

Center Stage Graphic Arts Director Bill Geenen happened to see the catalogue and chose Thomson's work and emailed her requesting permission to use it for the cover of the Center Stage program of "Death and the Maiden". Geenen, who has been with Center Stage for nine years, commented when he saw her design, "It was a very striking image...the eyes were obviously feminine..they had an emotional quality that sort of rang true with the play."  Thomson was floored when she read Geenan's request since she knew the play and the playwright Ariel Dorfman from human rights circles in Washington, DC. She's even had Dorfman at her home.

When the Thomsons first arrived at Center Stage to see the play, they noticed immediately her work in the lobby displayed as a huge poster. "I was very emotional, satisfied I was able to contribute to the success of the play and the theme of the play, what it stands for…human rights."

When an usher handed her the program, she didn't confide with the usher or anyone else that the cover was her work.

And those eyes that grace the cover?  She commented, "The eyes of the woman, it goes with the play. They say so much."

Credit must go to Geenen for his keen eye for artwork.

You can view more of Thomson work at www.helgaart.com.

Tickets for the final week-end of "Death and the Maiden" are available at 410-332-0033. Do not miss it.

For comments, cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.