Sister Gertrude Morgan: The Mystic of New Orleans - Book - Page 100
retirement, “I think this is one of the most moving pieces I have had
the privilege to contemplate.” When any kind of art conveys the numinous, it continuously haunts and inspires its observer with a palpable
yet ineffable inspiration.
In addition to being a master of non-contrived art, Sister Gertrude was an exemplar of multisensory sanctified expression, a key
dynamic behind sacred ecstatic experience. Scholar Elaine Yau caught
this same truth:
Morgan translated sanctification’s polyvocality, sensations, and performative dimensions into the realm of the
visual . . . Morgan’s “old-time religion” crackles beneath
the patina of age and vibrates with new energy . . . Some of
her paintings appear most like visual translations of vocal
performance.3
Sister Gertrude’s paintings glow with the Holy Spirit and radiate
sacred elation. I hope this book helps people catch some of the numinous mystery that still pours from her life story, poetry, testimonies,
songs, and art. It was Sister’s mission to help make us ready to receive a
great love in our hearts and get the Spirit moving in our lives. Brad and
I want Missionary Morgan to know that her ministry accomplished its
task. We can still hear her preaching in a loud voice from the other side,
“Praise Him! Praise Him! Come on people eat the bread! Oh, you’ll wish
one day you had!”4
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