Nelson, Marilyn. Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano, 01/2022. 128pp. Poetry. GRADES 9 – 12. $18.99. 978-0-316-29802-5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
A biographical portrait in chronological poems captures the character of the African American sculptor’s life and work. Nelson goes far beyond biographical details and immerses us in the internal. We experience Savage’s thoughts and feelings as they occur. The downside of this immersion is an initial loss of orientation. Readers, most of whom will have little context for Savage’s illustrious and probably no knowledge of her career as an artist and art teacher, are dropped into a vanished era in which the child Augusta, sculpting ducklings and frogs from clay, is routinely beaten by her devout father for creating idolatrous, graven images. What helps to lure readers along are the many b&w photographs of Savage’s amazing sculptures dotted among the pages. As the poems progress to more familiar ground it becomes easier to connect to a story that has a familiar shape. The variety of poetic form, and diversity of voices make this a quick, engaging read. Nelson is exemplary in providing abundant fascinating details. Readers will come away with an indelible impression of an artistic life fully lived, and hopefully motivated to seek out Savage’s surviving work. An Afterword provides seven pages of context and biographical detail. While there are photo credits, no biographical sources or suggestions for further reading are included.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired