Artwork copyright Macduff Everton. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1985.

Waiting for the Music, 1983

Macduff Everton
American (born 1947)

Location: Columbia Basin College, Pasco

About the Artwork

Waiting for the Music is a hand-painted photograph captured by artist Macduff Everton in Chichimila, Yucatan, Mexico. He took the photograph while celebrating the baptism of a neighbor's small child. Everton notes, "This fellow, standing here, was a friend of the family from another village near Chichimila. He wanted me to take a picture of him dancing. He is waiting for the music. We had a portable record player, the kind that runs off flashlight batteries and doesn't deliver too much quality or volume. Behind me, crowding in the doorways and making relatively rude comments to see if they can bring a smile to this fellows face, are between thirty and forty baptism partygoers. They are also waiting for the music so that they can join in the dancing once I take this fellow's picture."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Bethel School District.

About the Artist

Santa Barbara, California-based artist Macduff Everton creates fine art and documentary photographs, as well as fiber-based artworks. His portraits and landscape images are inspired by his world travels. He is a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler. He received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara.