The Art Within Not Bending An Inch (5 points)

     I recently visited the Nancy Elizabeth Prophet exhibit within Spelman's Cosby museum. This was actually my first trip to our campus museum ever and I wasn't sure what to expect. After walking through the doors and being greeted by the young ladies behind the reception desk, I enter the main gallery. While taking in the ambiance of my surroundings, I found myself gravitating towards the back wall. Nancy Elizabeth Prophet's signature boldly taking up its rightful space and giving said wall a purpose other than shielding from outside elements. 

    Nancy Elizabeth Prophet was not only an artist, but a teacher of three-dimensional art, art history, and architecture as well. All of her artistry expertise within these mediums, and more, are also seen within her museum collection. The text on the wall told the story of her involvement with creating the Spelman art program and how she was the first (documented) graduate of color from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her steadfast resistance to gender as well as the racial based man made limitations of her time, add an undeniable weight to her art and her own words, "I will not bend an inch" While Nancy Elizabeth Prophet's art had examples of classical form, it possessed the idiosyncrasies of her identity as an Afro-Indigenous woman. Because of these aspects, we can observe the reflections of her craftsmanship expertise and resilience in her art.

    Many pieces of the Nancy Elizabeth Prophet collection captured my attention. Such as the "Head of a Negro" piece that depicts a man's head carved from wood. While it's unclear whether the inspiration behind this piece was Francis Ford, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet's husband, or music artist Roland Hayes, the look of focus and determination emitting from his carved eyes is undeniable. Another art work that caught my eye was a framed self portrait of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet. I have always found self portraits to be incredibly revealing about how that artist views themselves. I believe the amount of detail and care that is within this drawing goes to show the amount of self respect and worth she knew she possessed within.

    In conclusion, I feel as though my overall experience within the Nancy Elizabeth Prophet exhibit was infused with the spirit of resilience and undeniable passion within an artistic skill set. The mix between expert artistry and advocacy for not only your gender but race, was just as inspiring as it was enlightening. ~Chloe Billingslea