I Sing Because I Am Happy

Object Details

Artist
Ruby C. Williams
Date
2004
Medium
acrylic on plywood
Dimensions
7 7/8 × 36 × 1/2 in. (20 × 91.5 × 1.2 cm)
Caption
In acrylic paint on a long plywood panel, Ruby C. Williams (1930-) paints five birds in hues of blue and red landing on a golden perch. Daubs of turquoise and red pepper a purple sky. Blue birds, often considered harbingers of happiness, befit the gospel hymn lyric painted on the perch in black: “I Sing Because I Am Happy.” The line begins the chorus of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” which continues: “I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The song affirms that a God who sees a tiny sparrow also cares about a person who might feel “discouraged” or “lonely,” feelings voiced in its first verse. Joy found in music and the natural world are themes explored by Williams, whose art emerged from making roadside signs to sell her home-grown produce. The Bealsville, Florida artist’s work was featured in the Anacostia Community Museum’s exhibition, On Their Own: Selected Works by Self-Taught African American Artists (2005).
Accession Number
2005.0007.0002
Type
painting
See more items in
Anacostia Community Museum Collection
Data Source
Anacostia Community Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dl84ba031f8-953d-4cc1-bd6e-b7af9891701c
Record ID
acm_2005.0007.0002
Back to Top