Can a Coal Scuttle Fly? - Hardcover

Murphy, Camay Calloway; Miller, Tom

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0938420550 ISBN 13: 9780938420552

Publisher: The Maryland Historical Society, 2020

Synopsis

In this extraordinarily bold and colorful new picture book, a young boy discovers he can make art from an old coal scuttle, and, with the encouragement of family and friends, grows up to be an artist!

About this title

Review

"Miller, who paints in a bold cubist style he calls 'Afro Deco,' uses his exuberant paintings to illustrate the story of his coming of age as an artist in Baltimore. Surrounded by affection in a visually stimulating environment, the young Miller cavorts through a joyful world of primary-colored objects and multi-hued relatives and neighbors. Conflicts are hinted at in the artist's fleeting unease at entering an all-white art school, but Miller's path leads fairly smoothly to success in realizing a unique artistic vision while maintaining close ties to his cultural roots. Unfortunately Murphy's narrative, while easily understood, lacks the freewheeling inventiveness of Miller's vivacious, slyly patterned paintings. Still, the spirit of the artist―and the idea that 'hope, love, hard work and lots of color' can accomplish miracles―comes through."

(Publishers Weekly)

"Baltimore native Tom Miller is a nationally known artist. Here, Miller illustrates his life story and emphasizes the message of the possibilities of life. Miller loved color from the time he was very young, and his Baltimore neighborhood was full of sights and sounds and laughter. His first project was painting a coal scuttle and making it look like a bird. Later, he went to art school and then taught art, always telling his students that 'anything is possible when you are true to your colors and true to yourself.' Miller is certainly true to his colors: his artwork is bold and imaginative and executed in a style he calls Afro Deco. Kids will respond to both the freewheeling shapes and the positive message. As much an art book as a biography."

(Booklist)

From the Author

Retired teacher collaborates with acclaimed artist.
This is the touching story of Tom Miller, an African American artist, who collaborated with me to tell his childhood memories while suffering from the AIDS virus. Tom talks about his love of colors, shapes and objects and how this love was nurtured by observing everyday life. Tom's art, called "Afro-Deco" illustrates this passion for urban life with bold beautiful colors and brilliant designs. The books is designed to inspire the imagination of our young people to consider becoming artists in an age where the arts are still not a priority in our culture.<P> I have recently retired after 40 years in early childhood education (the last 25 spent as a principal), so I think I have a good idea about what our children need and like. Writing has become a hobby for me, and my father, jazz artist Cab Calloway, taught me to appreciate the arts at a young age. It is this tradition that continues in "Can a Coal Scuttle Fly?"<P> From the inside cover "Each child is a bundle o

Edition details

• Publisher: The Maryland Historical Society
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 0938420550
• ISBN 13: 9780938420552
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32