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Mary's Books
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Buy the Book |
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| "When
our lives change in ways that we
could never imagine, the true
artist uses her art to change
the world. Mary Fisher aims to
do just that. These tough,
evocative, insightful works
rouse people around the world to
think and, we hope, to act. Open
this book with the understanding
that your life will have a
greater dimension when you close
it." |
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~
Christina Orr-Cahall
Former
Director
Norton Museum of Art |
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 Mary
Fisher's AIDS activism has taken her around
the globe. But it was Africa that "changed
her," she said after visiting as part of an
official delegation and then returning with
her two, teenaged sons. From acres of
orphans to mourning villages, Fisher
breathed in the experience of AIDS in
Africa. In the midst of loss and anguish,
she experienced the power of ABATAKA
-- a pan-African term meaning family, tribe,
community, home, belonging.
Mary claimed the name ABATAKA for a
book showcasing her African-inspired art
works, with reflective essays on each piece.
The works, she wrote, "were born in the
heart of an American woman being embraced by
African women. What bonded us was AIDS. Our
lives had each, against our own wills, been
redefined by a tiny virus we never wanted
but now could not escape. These women gave
me ABATAKA."
Her time in Africa left Fisher inspired and
impatient. She poured her feelings into
compelling, unflinching art works. And
between her Africa visits, she delivered
bold testimony to the U.S. House of
Representatives: |
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| "I have seen AIDS - I've seen it in
Africa, in America, and in the mirror. I have looked
into the eyes of a thousand orphans. I've held other
mothers who want, like me, not to leave their children.
I have smelled the smell of dying. And I have tasted the
absolute despair of those who are defined, as I am
defined, by the virus. Therefore, I have come to
Washington today to ask those of you with power to make
a difference..." |
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~
Mary Fisher
(April 5, 2000) |
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The agony of AIDS is the
backdrop for Fisher's recent work, including
pieces collected in this book. But above the
grim images of wasting and death hangs the
miracle of ABATAKA. Fisher's Africa-inspired
quilts, sculptures and textiles give her
soul a place to speak of courage, passion,
integrity, hope and humor. In the end,
Fisher's art stands as a compelling argument
that, if we are willing, we can
make a difference. |
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by Mary
Fisher
Paperback -
(Copywriters Inc.)
112 pages - 2004
Cost: $19.95 + Shipping
ISBN-10: 0974995207
ISBN-13: 978-0974995205 |
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Click on the
book covers to see a larger
view |
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