If You Whisper Whisper a Prayer - High Museum of Art

If You Whisper Whisper a Prayer

Nellie Mae Rowe

American, 1900–1982

Written over blue Sears fashions stamp: “if you whisper, whisper a prayer call god up tell him up and tell him what you want.” Orange, partly cursive words on cardboard, saying: “God is so good, try him, call him up and tell him what you want.”

Details

Title

If You Whisper Whisper a Prayer

Artist/Maker

Nellie Mae Rowe (American, 1900–1982)

Date

before 1978

Medium

Crayon, pencil, and pen on cardboard

Dimensions

10 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches

Credit

Gift of Judith Alexander

Accession #

2002.238

On View

Currently not on view

Rowe’s body of work is chock-full of catch phrases and sayings that were collected from all sources of media, whether faith-bound or otherwise. Not all of her -isms are meant to be humorous, but you can certainly imagine her saying this phrase with a wry grin. Didactic in nature, this work is perhaps more subdued than others but undoubtedly no less enthusiastic regarding her particular practice of Christianity.

Image Copyright

© Estate of Nellie Mae Rowe/High Museum of Art, Atlanta.

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