Made in Mississippi

1975 18mMovie

Documentary

A 16mm documentary based on fieldwork that William Ferris conducted with African American folk artists throughout Mississippi. Footage includes Richard Foster at the "dog trot" house he grew up in, basket maker Leon "Peck" Clark, quilter Amanda Gordon, floral gardener Esther Criss, cane fife maker Otha Turner, painter and cane maker Lester Willis, and sculptor James "Son" Thomas. The artists discuss their informal training, artisic motivation and vision, and the value they attach to their art while working on their crafts.