Reginald Sanders facts for kids

Reginald Algernon Anderson (1921–2001), also known as Reginald Sanders, was an American artist. He was known for making collages and pencil drawings. For over 25 years, he worked as a museum guard at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. He only started showing his art to the public in the 1990s.

Early Life and Art Education

Reginald Anderson was born on June 7, 1921, in Waterloo, Iowa. His family lived in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota. He finished high school at John Marshall High in 1942. He did not fight in World War II because of speech problems.

Anderson studied art at the University of Minnesota and the Walker Art Center. He later earned a master's degree in fine arts from the Minneapolis College of Art. In 1950, Time Magazine recognized him as one of the country's best art students. He had his own art shows in Minneapolis in 1963 and at the College of St. Teresa in 1966.

Art Career and Major Works

After his two shows in the 1960s, Anderson did not show his art for 28 years. During this time, he worked many different jobs. He was an art museum guard, a streetcar worker, and an art supply salesman. He also worked in various factories.

In 1990, Anderson had a serious stroke. This event changed his life. He decided to focus on creating art again. He said, "I woke to the shimmering sun on my window shade and suddenly knew who I am, why I am here and what I have to offer."

In December 1993, Anderson had an art show with Clarence Morgan. Morgan was an art professor at the University of Minnesota. Their show was at the Minneapolis Foundation offices in the Foshay Tower. In January 1994, Anderson showed his art at Circa Gallery in Minneapolis.

Later that year, he traveled to Paris, France. He attended a big meeting about African American visual art. Friends and fellow museum guards helped pay for his trip. In 1997, a film was made about him. It was called "Not A Nickel's Worth of Doubt." His niece, Terri Myers Wentzka, wrote and directed it.

Today, some of Anderson's artwork is part of the permanent collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This means his art will be kept and shown there for a long time.

What Inspired Reginald Anderson's Art?

Reginald Anderson found inspiration in many places. He loved jazz music, especially the sounds of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis.

He first noticed his artistic feelings when he was a child. He was watching tadpoles on his grandmother's farm. He once said, "Look now and you will see all these little things - the dots, the question marks, the periods, the commas, the little tadpoles in there - everything. All those little pieces that we ignore, because they're insignificant. Well, put them all together and it really turns into something." This shows how he saw beauty and meaning in small details.