Introduction
Minnie Evans is a very exclusive case and particularly unique case when it comes to her artwork. Here we discover what she meant when she claims that her views and perspectives within the art come exclusively from her dreams as well as the word of the Lord. In a way, she is a living replicant of scripture (not at all in a religious sense or overly spiritual way) as she acts very knowingly as a vessel for spiritual energy and transparency to transcend her earthly being into the art that she creates. As can be said by looking at any number of her artworks, they carry a delicate but powerful, dreamlike structure and pattern to them. What drew me to her as an artist personally, was the absolute amount of symmetry and care that was taken in each line stroke, and each vivid piece of imagery that appeared to be ready to jump out of the page at you. Also, the jarring and daring faces and figures that appear to be more lifelike than they appear, almost as if looking into a two-way mirror, where the viewer views the art while simultaneously being viewed. It’s such an unnatural yet intriguing style of work. An eerie sense of self-awareness can be seen when looking into the art as well. Adding further to her claims that the art happens to her, and simply cannot be thought of or brought about on purpose or consciously, without an, other being (whether existing within her subconscious or beyond a realm any of us could comprehend besides her) guiding the pen and brush in hand, to reflect the desired outcome of what is meant to be reflected. And to be even more didactic with her art, some of her paintings and pictures, are meant to clearly represent God in their truest form, as according to Evans. In the form of a large face with white drapery and large wings as it mixes in with the reality you and I inhabit. Surrounded by gorgeous bounds of nature and spiral curvature, anything beyond a dream or a vision that would create this must have a maddening process. Though terrifying, it is still as alluding as ever, with the guise of a safety net, no one is truly safe from these beings nor are they in any danger. Evans simply brought her world (or another world) to this world, for all to see clearly, and perhaps even, enjoy.
Credits
Waladi Ali