Two giants of arts and letters, each self-described as “the people’s painter” and “the people’s poet,” respectively, come together in a new exhibition at the Carlos Museum: “Crisscrosses: Benny Andrews and the Poetry of Langston Hughes.”
The collection shows the illustrations and paintings of Benny Andrews as they directly connect to writings by Langston Hughes – an intersection of fine art and the diverse stripes of American life that Andrews referred to as the “crisscrosses.”
In this interview, “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes is joined by curator and Spelman College student of History and Curatorial Studies Nadia Scott to discuss this multifaceted exhibit.
“One of the hallmarks of his poetry is that he didn’t use overly flowery language; it was the way that you and I speak,” Scott said.
The exhibition “Crisscrosses: Benny Andrews and the Poetry of Langston Hughes” is on view at the Carlos Museum at Emory University through Dec. 10, and more information is available here.
