Art of the Spirit
The Culture of the Rural South, Self-Taught Artist Lisa Cain
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Website http://www.lisacain.org
THE SOUTH
I feel the spirit of the south in the crowing of the rooster in the early morning. I can feel the spirit of the south in the sound of the crickets in the silence of the night and in the sound of spirituals that radiate through church on a Sunday. The spirit of the south is present in the smell of country dirt after rain has sprinkled the earth, and in the smell of honeysuckles growing on a wooden fence. There is beauty in the South that cannot be matched by any architectural design created by man. There is a refuge in the silence of the night and in the sound of a flowing stream. In the depth of the country, in the greenness of the earth, there you will find peace and experience the fullness of the God as Creator. I am a product of the south, a product of my family, community, and church. My personality was shaped by the values of family and people whom I encountered during my childhood. It does not matter if one is from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, the Carolina’s or Georgia. There is a kindred spirit that radiates through the hearts of individuals that grew up in small southern towns. There is a cultural richness that is embedded in the hearts of those who experienced country life.
The faces of the individuals that I picked cotton with or shared the essence of southern spirituality may never be seen by the masses and their voices may now be silent. However, through my paintings their story and my story will be told. My paintings tell the story of individuals who were strong in values, culture, unity and spirituality. As the world becomes more technologically advanced, I hope that we will remember the foundations and the bridges laid by people who knew how to survive with the items that they possessed and within the society in which they lived. We have received a rich inheritance; a solid foundation that was built on values that have stood the test of time. I received a rich inheritance from my parents, grandparents, great grandparents and from individuals in my community. Because of them, I know the value of hard work, the significance of love and spirituality, and I realize the importance of serving others. I am a memory painter and through my art I tell the story of a time that was beautiful. My art expresses the joy that I felt as a child while growing up in the rural South and it is through my art that I hope to share this joy with others.
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About the Book
Art of the Spirit, The Culture of the Rural South, provides readers with an overview of the culture and some traditions of the rural South. Self-taught African American folk artist, Lisa Cain, Ph.D. provides a pictorial demonstration of country life through her art. The artist hopes that this book will remind society of the importance of retaining some of the values and culture of past generations. This book expresses the joy that the author felt while growing up in Canton, Mississippi and it emphasizes the character of individuals of the rural South who were proud, brilliant, fearless, hard working and strong and who loved each other, loved God and who valued the land and nature. The art of Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D. has been exhibited by galleries across the United States and has been collected by many individuals.
About the Author
Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D.
Educator, Neuroscientist, Administrator and Artist
Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D. is a native of Canton, Mississippi and a graduate of Holy Child Jesus High School. A distinguished Honors College graduate of Jackson State University, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1984. As a student at Jackson State University, she was an exemplary leader and was selected as Miss Jackson State University in 1983-84. In 1989, she received a Ph.D. from the Anatomy Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anatomy at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey from 1989-90 and was a postdoctoral fellow in neuroscience in the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School from 1990-1992. She is presently an Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Associate Member of the Institute of the Medical Humanities, and the Director of Medical School Enrichment Programs at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She is the Gulf Coast Representative for an international organization and the Southern United States representative for an international foundation. She has been involved with education, research and health care initiatives in Africa, Paris, and Canada. She has a vast array of experience in research, education, program development, networking, consulting on an international level, and in assisting individuals in evaluating their goals and their direction in life. Her greatest areas of expertise is in teaching gross anatomy, evaluating programs and their development, establishing national and international partnerships between individuals and institutions with similar goals, and in establishing effective communication between groups. She has been recognized for her contributions to medical and graduate education. She has received numerous awards and has been involved in national and international service projects.
Lisa D. Can, Ph.D. is a self-taught folk artist whose work has been exhibited at several galleries and shows throughout the United States. In recognition of her art, she has been in several magazines. She was featured in the March 2006 issue of Southern Living Magazine for her achievements in art, science and education. She was also featured in the March 2006 Issue of the American Association Medical Reporter Magazine for her science and art. Painting is her passion and joy. She is married to Kim Shandell Smith and they are the parents of two sons, Marcus Percy DeKimbe, and Malcolm XZavier Lindbergh Smith.
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