If You Want to Be Seen, Stand Up…

Two years ago, I took a delightful trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The last time I was there was to celebrate turning 50, by crossing out a major bucket list experience of hang gliding off of Lookout Mountain. Mission accomplished! It seems like each time I visit this little corner of the state, I discover something new, and two years ago was no exception. As my family and I wandered into the Hunter Museum of American Art located in the downtown area, a fabulous art center by the way, we came upon their newest exhibit, Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe. I’m excited to share with you what I learned about this creative being and the particular emotional impact that one of her pieces had upon my heart.

African-American artist, Nellie Mae Rowe, was born on the fourth of July in Fayette County, Georgia. From a very early age, Nellie Mae drew pictures and created other works of art from whatever she could find. She frequently merged elements of fantasy and reality by way of animal and human shapes that created hybrid figures such as a dog/human, cow/woman, a dog with wings, and a butterfly/bird/woman. She also made sculptures and dolls and whimsical items, staying in touch with her inner child, but who was often told by her sister that she was wasting her time and to stop drawing.

Artist: Nellie Mae Rowe. Image Source: High Museum of Art

Artist: Nellie Mae Rowe. Image Source: High Museum of Art

Artist: Nellie Mae Rowe. Image Source: High Museum of Art

The tenacity for fantasy-inspired creation would remain with her, and after losing two husbands to death along with her long-time employers, she began at the age of 68 to build her “Playhouse,” which one visitor described as a “wonder of the land.” She decorated it with not only her hundreds of pieces of artwork, but with handmade dolls and chewing-gum sculptures. She found a use for most anything and spoke often that one’s “nothing” could be made into “something.”

Photograph: Lucinda Bunnen. High Museum of Art

As Nellie Mae began transforming her home into her Playhouse, people threw bottles, eggs, and firecrackers at her house, took her dolls from her yard, and maliciously accused her of practicing voodoo and black magic. During this period, living with the daily threat of racially provoked violence, not only did she continue making her art, she welcomed predominantly white visitors into her home.

Towards the end of her life, despite the sadness she felt about current events and her own physical suffering from cancer, she approached her pending death with spiritually inspired optimism. She visualized and expressed her celestial future in 1982, the year of her passing, in a poignant drawing with the words, “I have a ride at last.”

She is now considered one of the greatest artists in American folk art history.

I quickly became teary-eyed as I slowly made my way around the art gallery that day in Chattanooga, as I read Nellie Mae’s story and as my eyes devoured her creativity. I rested on one drawing in particular as I contemplated the images and words that she wrote in her own style. The message being conveyed was this:

If You Want to be Seen, Stand Up

If You Want to be Heard, Speak Up

If You Want to be Appreciated, Shut Up

Artist: Nellie Mae Rowe. Picture taken at Hunter Museum of American Art

Let’s talk about the first part of Nellie’s message-being seen and heard.

When I was in the 6th grade, I, and a select few others in my class, were chosen to speak or give a speech we had each written in front of the entire grade at school. This was part of the Modern Woodmen of America scholarship program, I think, and if you were selected as a finalist, you would have an opportunity to speak at the state level competition, another step closer to winning.

I was one of the finalists chosen.

And I freaked out.

That day in middle school, as I delivered my speech, was terrifying. I recall how my hands trembled as I held my index cue cards, even though I had memorized the whole speech, fearing to look at my peers and teachers, and forcing myself to do so. It was hard enough just trying to figure out my 12 year old self, much less to be in the spotlight of public speaking. At least it was for me.

The teachers gave us last ones standing a choice. We could continue the quest or we could stop. I chose to stop.

A lost opportunity.

What stopped me and what stops others is fear.

Whether one is trying to fulfill a desire, has been appointed an assignment, is advocating for a cause or for themselves or another, or trying to express themselves in some way, i.e., to be seen and heard, fear can take the train off the tracks.

Fear keeps you quiet and still. There is an individual voice in each of us and we are called to show up and participate in our own lives, but it can be a hard call to answer. So be gentle with yourself. Easy as she goes.

To be seen and to be heard requires stepping or leaning fully into yourself with trust and patience and letting go of the fear. Step out of the shadows and come into your light. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll be understood or accepted, mind you, but you will know your power. I’m pretty sure that Nellie Mae knew this, especially when the bottles and firecrackers were coming her way.

Now, for the last part of Nellie Mae’s drawing: If you want to be appreciated, shut up.

I believe that most of us enjoy recognition of our efforts, receiving kudos, or that “attitude of gratitude” directed at us. I know I loved getting those happy face stamps or colored sticker stars on my elementary school papers as a kid. They were a big motivator and made me happy.

It’s ok to feel good. Go ahead and let yourself. The ultimate goal of appreciation, though, is self-appreciation. What I mean by that is to appreciate your own self or your spirit, is through your own gratitude to yourself, versus getting it from another in order to feel good or appreciated.

Know when to speak and know when to listen (our ego-mind has a hard time with this one).

If you want respect, you must offer respect.

You can’t chase water. You can’t grab it.

You can’t make them love you.

Be You.

Witness all that you are - a divine being of the Divine - which is how Nellie Mae Rowe saw herself.

Dear Nellie Mae,

I see you, I hear you, I appreciate you.

P.S. Have fun with art! Draw! Paint! Sculpt! Color! You’re not too old! 😁

Til next we meet in the forest…

Love,

Amanda ❤️