BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION

The singular oeuvre of Mr. Imagination enlivens the African American Museum.

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS BYRNE PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTORIA GOMEZ

Late summer, the African American Museum in Fair Park opened Fire! The Resurrection of Mr. Imagination, on view through January 7, 2023, composed of the late artist’s selftaught oeuvre. Using the detritus of everyday life, Gregory Warmack, known as Mr. Imagination, investigated the boundaries of art through tragic circumstances, coming out on top through spirituality and mythic compositions.

African American Museum curator Phillip E. Collins speaks with Chris Byrne about his legacy.

Chris Byrne (CB): It’s exciting that the African American Museum is hosting Gregory Warmak‘s important retrospective. Fire! The Resurrection of Mr. Imagination features approximately 80 works— how did the exhibition come about? Phillip Collins (PC): Fire: The Resurrection of Mr. Imagination came about through a series of interviews with the artist based on the theme of his public persona and private life’s changes. CB: I had the opportunity to meet Gregory in New York City. Jim Gold, the then president of Bergdorf Goodman, and I organized window installations featuring his work as well as other artists from the collection of the American

Above: The altar from Mr. Imagination's home and studio. Below: Mr. Imagination’s mixed-media Jumper.

Fire! The Resurrection of Mr. Imagination installation views.

Visionary Art Museum — I learned that it was during a hospitalization in 1978, Gregory had a vision which encouraged his focus on art, adopting the moniker Mr. Imagination. And in January 2008, his home and studio were destroyed in a fire... PC: Yes — the 2008 house and studio fire he experienced in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, allowed him to expand his spiritual world view. And during his hospitalization in 1978 (while in a coma) he had visions of himself living in other times as gods, kings, and royalty. He declared the experience prophetic and he a prophet, which encouraged his focus on art as a messenger, adopting the moniker, Mr. Imagination. CB: Can you describe “visual literacy” as it relates to viewing his work? PC: Gregory was a deeply religious person. He had an extraordinary ability to interpret meaningful art forms and compositions by utilizing various historical religious texts with inconographic images embellished with a variety of found objects such as bottle caps, industrial sandstone, nails, jewelry, plaster, house paint, and putty. CB: The show includes various self-portraits... PC: All masks and faces in the exhibition are representations or portraits of Mr. Imagination. CB: And the installation of the altar from his home and studio in Atlanta is incredible... PC: Yes—Head of God (located on altar wall above the burnt door) is a head representing Mr. Imagination as a sun god as well as representing the biblical god of Ezekiel’s vision. Self Portrait is a head resting on a metal plate, representing Mr. Imagination as well as representing the biblical John the Baptist with a hair style suggesting the Nemes Crown of Egyptian pharaohs. P

Fire! The Resurrection of Mr. Imagination installation views.