IndexIntroductionVisual artist: Lev T. MillsPoet: Countee CullenGemini, The IncidentAnalysisConclusionIntroductionArt in general has become a popular medium for sending and communicating strong messages regarding life and society as a whole. Poetry and visual art have become some of the most common art forms used to address social, political, and economic issues in society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The book, Words with Wings pairs a poet and a visual artist to reflect on certain aspects of the African American experience and culture. In the book there are several poems combined with visual art to convey particular messages. One such pairing is the famous poem called “Incident” written by Countee Cullen, paired with the famous visual art called “Gemini” by Lev T. Mills. Visual Artist: Lev T. MillsLev T. Mills, the visual artist behind the Gemini image, was born in Tallahassee Florida. Mills earned his bachelor's degree from Florida and A&M University. He also obtained his postgraduate certificate from the Slade School of Fine Arts at University College - University of London. Mills became famous for his constructionist approach to art. He is one of many artists known for making a balanced career between being a visual artist and an educator. Some of his famous artworks have appeared in group and solo exhibitions in the United States, Europe and Africa. Additionally, Mills also published an art book of printmaking and poetry titled I Do. Mills' other artwork includes commissions such as the atrium floor design for the Atlanta City Hall Annex, the seal for the Corretta Scott King Award as well as the famous Mixed Media Building at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta . You can find some of his artwork in major private and public collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the British Museum in London, the High Museum of Art and the Library of Congress in Washington DC. Poet: Countee Cullen County Cullen is still considered one of the most important figures of the African-American artistic movement popularly referred to as the Harlem Renaissance. Born in 1903 in Louisville, Kentucky, Cullen attended DeWitt Clinton High School between 1918 and 1921 where he won a city-wide poetry contest while also serving as an editor for the school newspaper and literary magazine. Cullen became an award-winning and recognized poet by his high school years, largely due to his confrontational but creative approach to the problems and challenges faced by African Americans of the time. After his high school years, Cullen moved on to New York University, where he studied. he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and won the Witter Bynner Poetry Prize. Cullen also published the famous but volume of poems entitled Color. Other works of poetry followed such as The Copper Sun and The Ballad of the Brown Girl. Furthermore, in addition to poetry, Cullen also worked as a high school teacher. He died in 1946. Gemini, The Incident Gemini is a work of visual art by Lev T. Mills. The painting depicts a young black African American boy with a hand on his chin looking directly at the viewer. Around the boy's head there is a group of other people running and/or walking. Behind the boy there are also structures including a wall with some sort of graffiti like painting with the words "Black is beautiful". The boys are depicted in such a way that they appear to come straight out of the boy's head. The painting has no written subject and therefore the messages depicted are inferred from a possible reference to the events and problems faced by African Americans in that period..
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