Souls Grown Deep Vol. 2: African American Vernacular Art

by William S. Arnett, William Arnett, Lowery Stokes Sims (Text)

Completing the two-volume set, Souls Grown Deep, Vol. 2 takes the visual and historical presentation of the first volume to a richer level, offering an even broader array of artistic styles and media. Published in 2000, the first volume explored the diverse historical roots of the genre and introduced artists whose work recalled the South of the pre–civil rights era. This sequel brings the movement into the present, delving into the work of the current generation of artists who are creating a complex form of art that blurs the boundaries between folk and contemporary art.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, African American

592 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2001

Reviews

[John Porcellino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book, but seemed to cover again some of the ground of the first volume. Still highly recommended!

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tome. A heavy book full of information about African American vernacular artists who live(d) in the South. It is complete with many beautiful photographs and essays about individual artists, many of them who are probably off the radar of most of us. I was particularly delighted to find out about Dinah Young, who does not consider herself to be an artist, and Mary Proctor. The life stories of these women and others are always fascinating.