Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of African American Artists

By Tonya Bolden

Book Overview

This book highlights influential and important African American 20th-century artists, from those of the early part of the century who were actively discouraged from pursuing their talent, to important participants in the Harlem Renaissance to modern and contemporary artists. The text also includes sidebars highlighting individual pictures and creators, completing a wonderful chapter in the history of American art and in African American life and achievement. Published in conjunction with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the nation's greatest repository of African American art, the book includes works by Romare Bearden, Roy DeCarava, Betye Saar, and Augusta Savage, among many others. From Faith Ringgold's fabric interpretation of the Harlem Renaissance to Gordon Parks' celebrated 1996 photograph of Muhammad Ali, the paintings, sculptures, and photographs reproduced here reflect the rich and varied experience of African American artists in the 20th century.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810945274
• ISBN13: 9780810945272
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 0.6" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

The Soul is Beautiful, but the Scholarship even more so

For all but the most lavishly funded school libraries every purchase must be justified eight ways from Sunday - there is simply no fat in today's budgets. But this work from Tonya Bolden transcends justification and has marched onto the Required List of every middle school, high school, Christian school and public library - particularly the ones stretching dollars. Bolden has assembled chronologically more then 30 biographies...

important art recognized in a lovely book

In conjunction with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the nation's greatest repository of African American Art, acclaimed author Tonya Bolden celebrates the many contributions of Black American Artists. In her brightly designed volume, one artist's life and work flows chronically into the other, almost seamlessly as though one took off from where the other left off, each building upon each other's style and work. In fact,...