On Thursday, I got re-routed while downtown and stumbled upon an exhibition of works by one of my most revered artists, Bill Traylor.
Born a slave in the mid 1850's in Alabama, Traylor did not start drawing until his 80's, sketching from his recollections as well as his observations. Most of his work was done in pencil, or pencil and poster paint, on paper and oddly shaped pieces of cardboard.
He was "discovered" in 1939 by a then aspiring artist, Charles Shannon, who encouraged his elder by supplying him with materials to continue his work. Traylor died in 1949. With the exception of two shows organized by Shannon in the early1940's, his work was not exhibited or truly celebrated until thirty years later.
The animals and figures on view at the Rivington Street gallery are immediately recognizable to Traylor lovers. Less familiar to me are "the abstracts," drawings, Ms. Cuningham shared, based on Traylor's observations of a basket weaver who sat opposite him on the street in Alabama, for instance.
All are magical as ever and worth getting a little lost in, if only for a fleeting moment on a hectic fall afternoon.
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| photos courtesy of pinterest pins |
15 Rivington Street, NewYork www.bettycuninghamgallery.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Traylor
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