Skip to main content
Like
Create new Glog
previous
next
Email share
154 views | 0 likes | 0 reposts
Augusta Savage was born on February 29, 1892 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. She knew that she wanted to be a sculptor early in her life. Her father was a Methodist minister, and did not want Augusta to sculpt because he thought that her creations were pagan. So she was not able to sculpt at that point. In 1915, her family moved to West Palm Beach, where she realized that her future was in sculpting. In 1919, at a county fair, Savage was given an award for a group of her sculptures. In 1921, Augusta Savage moved to New York in hopes of finding a sculpting job. Many blacks did the same thing during the Migration era. When Augusta Savage reached Harlem, it did not take long for her to establish herself not only as an artist, but also as a teacher. Most of her sculptures, in some way, reflect an aspect of African-American culture.
Augusta Savage was a dedicated teacher who put her own work aside in order to encourage gifted children. She was appointed director of the Harlem Community Art Center in 1937, and helped to organize the Harlem Arts Guild. She created one of her major works, ''The Harp,'' based on James and J. Rosamond Johnson's song, Lift Every Voice and Sing.. It is pictured under construction in her studio. Of her work with children, she said, ''If I can inspire one of these youngsters to develop the talent I know they possess, then my monument will be in their work.''
Gamin was a sculpture that won Augusta Savage the Julius Rosenwald Fellowship in 1929 and the opportunity to study in Paris for one year. After returning home from Europe, Savage was ready to share he art with the Harlem community through teaching.
The Harp
Gamin
Leonore Augusta Savage is known for her portrait busts of famous men as well as ordinary people in the African American community. Here, she has chosen to portray a young, innocent African American girl, Leonore.
Augusta Savage
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/Harlem/graphics/asavage1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/Harlem/text/asavage_slide.htm
http://northbysouth.kenyon.edu/1998/art/pages/savage.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/arts/pop_savage.html
http://www.driskellcenter.umd.edu/narratives/exhibition/sec2/sava_a_01.htm
http://link.history.com/services/link/bcpid2760047001/bclid7053293001/bctid7231914001 Harlem Renaissance Video
