Eldren Bailey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eldren M. Bailey
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Eldren M. Bailey with his sculptures in Atlanta, Georgia, 1986
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| Born | 1903 |
| Died | 1987 (aged 83–84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Movement | Modern Art |
Eldren "E. M." Bailey (1903–1987) was an African American artist. He was famous for his large sculptures made from cement. He often showed these amazing artworks right in his front yard! Born in Flovilla, Georgia, Bailey lived most of his life and created his art in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Eldren Bailey's Life Story
Eldren Bailey was born in 1903. His father worked on the railroad. Eldren left school when he was in the third grade. When he was thirteen, he moved from Flovilla, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia. Like his father, he worked on the railroads until 1942.
In the early 1940s, he married his wife, Marjorie. He then stopped working on the railroad. In 1942, he became a cement mason. This meant he worked with cement, often making grave markers for cemeteries and funeral homes. In 1945, Bailey made his very first yard sculpture, called Crucifixion. After that, he kept filling his yard with sculptures. These artworks honored important people, famous figures, and other artists.
Eldren Bailey passed away in Atlanta in 1987. He was 83 years old.
Eldren Bailey's Art Career
Becoming a cement mason gave Bailey a steady job. This allowed him to build a special art studio in his home. His home was in the Mechanicsville neighborhood of Southside Atlanta.
Public Art in His Yard
Bailey's public sculptures were often displayed in his yard for everyone to see. These artworks were usually copies of historical figures, animals, or everyday objects like giant urns. In the 1940s and 1950s, these sculptures were painted in bright, lively colors. But over time, the colors faded, leaving the sculptures as plain white cement. One of Bailey's smaller outdoor sculptures, called Dancers, even inspired a poem! The poem is titled "Dreaming We're E.M. Bailey's Dancers" by Carrie Meadows.
Hidden Art Inside His Home
Bailey also made more personal artworks. These included small sculptures and paintings, which he kept inside his home, away from public view. He created special shrines to friends who had passed away. He also carved and painted figures from myths that had special symbols. Some of his art also showed his strong ideas about politics and the world, like his works Ecumenical and Politician's Funeral.
Where His Art Was Shown
Eldren Bailey's art has been shown in museums. His work was displayed at The Rockford Art Museum in Rockford, IL. It was also part of an exhibition called ASHE: Improvisation & Recycling in African-American Visionary Art, which was shown at the NC Diggs Gallery.
His Unique Home Interior
Bailey's creativity wasn't just in his sculptures and paintings. He also covered the inside walls of his home with sculpted concrete. It looked like the walls of a cave or grotto! This special decoration showed Bailey's interest in ancient Christian homes found in the catacombs of Rome. He also thought about old civilizations known only through their tombs or caves. Many things in his home, like lamps and planters, looked like rock formations. This showed his idea that the earth holds all things from the past and helps human life.
Some experts believe that Bailey's art, whether inside or outside his home, connected the past and the future. They say his art showed that people who are alive and those who have passed away will meet again. One example is a concrete artwork he had in his yard. It showed the suits from a deck of cards. The diamond-shaped part had a message that said, "Remember to Die."
After Eldren Bailey passed away in 1987, his large sculptures were taken from his property. While some of his smaller outdoor sculptures, like Dancers and Moon Lady, have been saved, his biggest yard artworks have not been seen since.
Today, Eldren Bailey's art is part of the permanent collections at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the High Museum of Art.
