Celebrating Freedom: The Art of Willie Birch - Hardcover

Rubin, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1555952658 ISBN 13: 9781555952655

Publisher: Hudson Hills Press Inc.,U.S., 2006

Synopsis

For the past ten years, Birch has been documenting the African American culture of his native New Orleans in large-scale sculpture and drawings that emphasise body language, dress codes, and everyday rituals. His guileless polychrome sculptures evoke both social history and emotion. His use of talismans give the viewer a window to another time, be it through old construction nails symbolising power and strength to a small West African paper mach, stool that stands apart as a symbol of nobility. Dedicated to the children of New Orleans, this is the first publication to examine Birch's career whose re-imagining of African and Southern folk art inspires thought provoking discussions as well as contemporary sculpture and design. It includes two essays and an interview with the artist, as well as colour reproductions of key works dating from 1968-2004.

About this title

Synopsis:

Willie Birch has been documenting the vibrant African-American culture of his native New Orleans in large-scale drawings that emphasize body language, dress codes, and everyday rituals. His guileless polychrome ethnic sculptures evoke both social history and emotion. His use of talismans give the viewer a window to another time, be it through old construction nails symbolizing power and strength to a small West African papier-mache stool that stands apart as a symbol of nobility. "Celebrating Freedom" is the first volume to examine in detail the career of this influential artist and is accompanied by 60 fabulous full-colour photographs.

About the Author:

David Rubin is the curator of Visual Arts at the Contemporary Arts Centre, New Orleans.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hudson Hills Press Inc.,U.S.
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1555952658
• ISBN 13: 9781555952655
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 120