“They say when everything is taken from you, you are given a gift,” said Sal Scalora, an artist, when being interviewed in the documentary Make, about another artist, the Prophet Royal Robertson. The truth of the statement made me flinch and elegantly summarized the spirit of the entire documentary. Robertson and three other artists: Hawkins Bolden, Judith Scott, and Ike Morgan are featured in this film, each of them disabled and each compelled to create visual art using various media. The film alternates among the artists, all in different cities, allowing the viewer to get acquainted with the artist, their disability, and, of course, their art works. Coming eventually is the “turn,” which gives the exposition of a key piece of information, thus far omitted, regarding each of the artists which is very much worth waiting for as the introductions are somewhat slow at times.
Of specific local interest is Hawkins Bolden, a Memphis artist who is one of the four artists featured in the film. Bolden, who lost his vision in childhood began making scarecrows out of objects he would find in the trash, such as: pots, pans, garden hoses, and clothing. He placed the scarecrows in the backyard garden of his home. Bolden had intense focus on the eyes of his scarecrows (usually the heads of the scarecrows were made of pots or buckets and the eyes were represented by drilled holes), sometimes there were forty or more eyes on a scarecrow. The somewhat haunting pieces that Bolden constructed are given more meaning after watching his process: from finding the materials to forming them into a mixed-media sculpture, all done without the benefit of sight and in the midst of abject poverty.
Make is a truly moving testament to the perseverance of man’s bond with art and the innate force that drives us to create in order to be fulfilled. In truth to that sentiment, John MacGregor, PhD. said in the film regarding Judith Scott’s connection with her art: “There is no doubt at all that she’s found meaning in this life of hers, something most of us never do manage to do.”
Official Website for “Make” / “Make” Page at Asthmatic Kitty Records
