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Summary: Nellie May Rowe: conceptual art and transcendental imagery
Review: In January I visited New York City for a few days. One night my friend and I happened to walk past the Museum Of American Folk Art, and saw something going on inside that involved wine and cheese. We took the bait, paid our admission/donation and joined the tour of the exhibit, which to our tremendous enjoyment, was the artwork of Nellie May Rowe,. The tour was given by the author of this book, Lee Kogan. Not only was this most definitely one of the best things I ever did on the spur of the moment, but the book is one of the nicest things I ever purchased on impulse. Nellie May Rowe's art combined with Lee Kogan's insight make for a powerful and strangely personal experience. We are given mystifyingly beautiful portraits of a woman's inner life and outer circumstance. The images embrace and thereby transcend the small human details that , by the nature of the beast itself, exist to be integrated into what I believe is the creation of real magic. Real magic doen't take shortcuts. Lee Kogan graciously signed the book for my daughter, saying that Nellie May Rowe's energy, spirit and marvelous art inspire us all, and this is certainly true: If I may be so bold as to take a quote from the book, from the writings of James Baldwin: "..go back to where you started, or as far back as you can, examine all of it, travel your road again and tell the truth about it. Sing or shout or testify or keep it to yourself; but know whence you came" Yeah. What he said. Anyways, do right by yourself, get your own copy because I'm not gonna be lending out mine anytime soon!
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