Subway Preacher

Alison Saar's Subway Preacher addresses the relationship between outward appearance and inner spirit. The sculpture was inspired by a homeless man whom Saar often encountered in the subway.

Although his clothing and demeanor are an indication of his material poverty, the preacher's heart is enshrined in his chest like a holy relic. In Subway Preacher, Saar calls attention to homelessness and to early-20th-century, African American preachers like Father Divine. She also pays homage to the store front churches of the Harlem Renaissance.

Saar is inspired by the myths, magic and rituals of African, Haitian, Creole, African American and contemporary life. Her materials are salvaged, and their unique histories provide complexity to the meaning of each sculpture.