Lou Stovall (Finding Aid)

Lou Stovall

1937 -

Favorite Food: Pound Cake

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Interview Length: 123 minutes

Interview Date(s): September 27, 2003

Interview Location(s): Washington, D.C.

Abstract

Lou Stovall talks about his family history, especially his parents' migration from Athens, Georgia to Massachusetts. He describes his parents in detail, particularly his father. He then discusses his childhood memories, his early education, and his early artistic endeavors. Lou Stovall describes his high school and early college years, including those people, places, and events that particularly influenced him. He talks briefly about his first marriage, and his two children. He then focuses on the racial dynamics of the 1950s, and talks about his early involvement in the Civil Rights Movement in Washington, D.C. He ends by discussing the role that art and artists can play in protest movements. Lou Stovall begins by discussing his artistic contributions to the Civil Rights Movement protests and his involvement in SNCC. He continues by describing his higher education, including his experience at Howard University, and his aborted plans for graduate school. Stovall also talks about his early career, especially the people who got him started. He concludes with a description of the creative process of building furniture and creating silk screens. Lou Stovall discusses his creative process, such as the importance of a clean, orderly studio, or his use of circular frames, birds, and earth tones. He talks about the value of silk screening and of recreating other artists' work, such as that of Jacob Lawrence. Stovall also talks about mentoring young artists, and why it is crucial to know one's history when creating art. He concludes by briefly discussing his concerns and hopes for the future of the black community, particularly in terms of African American vernacular language. Lou Stovall continues his discussion of how the use of African American vernacular English can be problematic. He goes on to talk about mentoring--first, in his relationship with Jacob Lawrence, and later, his own experiences mentoring younger artists. He then talks about his legacy--what he would like to be remembered for, how he would like to be remembered, and what he would have liked to have done differently. Stovall concludes with his advice to young artists.

50 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)