“Sing
in me, Muse, and through me tell the story.....” Like Homer, every artist, writer and performer requires a source of inspiration. In her case, Zaharati Morfesis’ “Muse” speaks ancient Greek! In 1999, Morfesis, a Kutztown University Fine Arts graduate from the class of 1985, traveled to Greece on a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship, where she taught art and studied goddess mythology in Athens. For Morfesis, the Greek culture is in her blood: “My grandparents are from Ithaca, Greece, the home of ‘Odysseus’, so I’ve always felt connected to the region’s antiquity.”
In fact, her love for the region and its mythology pervades her art, poetry, and performance, including Persephone
and Hades, a one-woman show which Morfesis debuted at the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival in September, 2005. Morfesis’ play, based on the Greek myth of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and goddess of spring, is performed as a dramatic monologue with singing, dancing, and the musical accompaniment of jazz percussionist, Sam Ruttenberg.
For Morfesis, mythology has become the foundation for her creative work in the visual arts, poetry and performance. “I’m inspired by the ancient world and its resonance in our contemporary times,” Morfesis explains, “Through my work, I strive to fuse the ancient and modern worlds in a unique balance.” In Persephone
and Hades, a contemporary telling of the ancient tale, Morfesis delves into themes of jealousy, betrayal, forgiveness and wisdom - facets of the human condition that permeate all ages and cultures.
In addition to performing on-stage, Morfesis also expresses herself through visual arts and poetry. Her writings have appeared in The Hellenic Chronicle, The National Herald, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Journal of Graduate Liberal Studies. Morfesis has enjoyed sharing her passion for creative art with youth from around the world, including the Penteli Orphanage in Greece, where she volunteered during her year abroad.
Morfesis is scheduled to perform Persephone
and Hades at the Rutgers University Alumni Week-end in May 2006. In fact, Rutgers University has been Morfesis’ academic, artistic and professional home since 1994. After receiving her Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Rutgers, Morfesis served as an adjunct teacher in its department of Fine Arts. Currently, Morfesis works at Rutgers University – School of Law in Faculty Support Services.
But, Morfesis remains most committed to her art and performance, a passion she developed at Kutztown. “My days at Kutztown University were pivotal in my artistic and intellectual growth,” she maintains, “I am especially indebted to Professors Anna Kuo and Leslie Kippen for their guidance and encouragement.”
No doubt, Morfesis will continue to follow her passion for art and performance by presenting ancient myth with contemporary appeal. “For me, the mythical world holds as much truth, if not more, than our material world of concrete concepts,” Morfesis concludes. “What is dreamed of, wished for, what is veiled in mystery, for me is the core of my creative life.”
