Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit was a bit of a surprise. For one thing, it’s small. Like smaller than a breadbox. (Does anyone use an actual breadbox or do we just use the expression?) I was expecting a regular picture book and instead it’s the size of a half-sheet of paper. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I thought you should know.The second thing shouldn’t have surprised me at all since I’d seen the cover of the book, but it threw me anyway. This isn’t We Are the Ship Kadir Nelson or even Please, Puppy, Please Kadir Nelson. You won’t find his intensely real and lush painting here. Again, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I thought you should know.
What you will find are significant phrases from Obama’s speeches paired with sketches inspired by those words. Some of the sketches are very loosely rendered, like one featuring the backs of several people at voting booths. There are scenes from the rallies that are simply sketched, yet capture the feeling of the crowd and the energy. The illustrations of Obama are the most meticulously drawn, with an accurate and vibrant representation of the man.
Change Has Come offers a quiet, short space for reflection on this amazing election. I kept returning to one picture of a serious, resolute Obama that was accompanied by this phrase: “The audacity to hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.” Because it is tomorrow.
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3 comments:
I want that book, and will buy myself a copy, since nobody sent me one. *sigh* I've only seen tidbits online, and didn't realize it was as small as you describe it.
I use a breadbox. When I got it, what struck me is that it was larger than my previous conception of a breadbox, which was entirely based on the "larger than a breadbox"/"smaller than a breadbox" thing.
Thanks for talking about this. I've really been wondering about all the Obama books, which ones are worth my time and which ones aren't--although Kadir Nelson's name on something usually indicates a safe bet.
Hey, I found this website by chance. I think it's great. I was introduced to Kadir Nelson while watching one of the early morning news shows on the tele this weekend (didn't have nothing better to do. I'm a college student studying children literature, it happened that I tuned in at the right time to see and hear the interview of Kadir by four young readers. He was very careful in answering their questions, I sensed integrity and sincerity in his answers. In addition the young readers were really attentive to what he was saying. I will share this website with fellow students of Chatfield College Cincinnati campus. Breadbox size- out of curiosity I'll purchase the book. I really love black and white illustrations. Mother Reader- wow !great title.
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