She Kept Her Conjuring Table Very Neat (Primary Title)
Renee Stout, American, born 1958 (Artist)
Artist Renee Stout has built a signature practice that throws into stark relief syncretic religious practices found throughout the African American community, but particularly those in the South.
Created with found and constructed objects, Stout’s work is a testament to her long-held fascination with the perseverance and adaptation of West African religious traditions in our contemporary world. The work provides an interior view of a fictional conjurer’s source of power—the conjuring table. Lifted slightly off the floor, the table holds an array of small but potent items, placed carefully and precisely, as if to activate the forces that facilitate communication with sacred, unseen forces. An adorned pair of shoes is placed directly in front of the table, identifying this space as one of reverence.
Astonishment & Power: The Art of Renee Stout: the National Museum of African Art (1993-1994)
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