A Road Scholar Program by Janice Harrington

On display at the Art Institute of Chicago is a painting entitled Cabin in the Cotton I by Horace H. Pippin, who visited Illinois in 1941. Many people who pass by the now-darkened painting, which depicts a simple scene of a woman sitting before a farm cabin, without giving it much thought would nevertheless be captivated by the story of the artist’s service in the legendary Harlem Hellfighters in World War I, during which he was wounded in the shoulder by sniper fire.

Already accomplished at drawing, Pippin took up painting and wood burning as therapy for both his injured arm and his haunting memories of the war. He became one of the foremost African American folk artists of the 1930s and 1940s.

Janice Harrington, author of a book of poetry entitled Primitive: The Art and Life of Horace H. Pippin, will share Pippin’s story through poetry, music, and images of Pippin’s art. She will invite the audience to discuss what we can learn about war, the experiences of African Americans, and other subjects from Pippin’s work. Learn more about Janice Harrington.

This event is Free and Open to the public. For more information, please contact Bob Conklin at bconklin@molinelibrary.org.