Paper short abstract:

I focus on the bas relief wood carving by Elijah Pierce (1892-1984) investigating the extent to which African American folk material cultural materials draw on traditional narrative belief motifs (Aarne –Thompson motif-index), existent in the Black community historically and contemporaneously.

Paper long abstract:

I focus on the artistic wood carving by Elijah Pierce (1892-1984) and investigate the extent to which African American folk material cultural draws implicitly upon traditional narrative belief motifs. I use the Aarne –Thompson motif-index to explain images in Pierce’s painted wood relief carvings and demonstrate the impact of historic folk motifs.

Elijah Pierce was a treasured citizen in his local Columbus African American community, an esteemed church member, a successful barber, a well-known artist, and a revered neighbor people respected for his talents and wisdom. The manner in which he synthesized these roles in the Black community was a measure of his innate intelligence. Notwithstanding his lack of formal education, Pierce drew upon traditional narrative motifs in his art. By the time of his death at 92, Pierce was recognized nationally as an important African American artist whose work was widely exhibited. Pierce received the National Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

From the 1930s, Pierce carried a walking stick where he carved images of his life and the community. When I interviewed Pierce, he referred to this cane as his “Preaching Stick”. I show carved images on the cane that relate to the Aarne-Thompson Motif-Index, for example: D867 “warns of Death” and D1322; “magic power of seeing Death at head or foot of bed” D1825.3.1; “white rose the symbol of death”, Z142.1; and “staff of life and death” E64.1.1. My research on folklore by the African American artist Pierce demonstrates the use of narrative motifs.