WATER   BOY

The Art & Life of Reverend Albert Lee Wagner

Edited by Gene & Linda Kangas

This exciting book uniquely chronicles the life and special artwork of Albert Wagner, from his childhood in the cotton fields of Arkansas to his later years in Cleveland, Ohio. He was an ordained minister, a father of twenty children, husband, businessman, and folk artist. Those combined experiences intertwined into the rich fabric of his life. They provided the foundation for his unusual visual expressions. Many of Albert's most compelling paintings are accompanied by a detailed explanation of those particular pieces in Albert's own words. WATER BOY illustrates 200 of Wagner's most intriguing paintings in this Special Limited Edition printing of 1300 copies. Autographed copies available for $35.00 US, includes shipping within USA.

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For many, many years Albert dreamed of a book about his art work; and he titled it WATER BOY. He and his mother were very close, and she acknowledged his love and creativity as a young boy. As a "water boy," whose job was crucial to his family as they picked cotton in the hot fields of his Arkansas childhood, Albert always felt those roots in his bones.

Albert's vision for the book project was to select particular paintings and narrate the concept of each in his own words; a full color painting was reproduced on one page, with his personal essay on the facing page. Albert began hand-writing his philosophical anecdotes nearly twenty years ago. His daughters Bonita Wagner Johnson, Lateefah Wagner Hasan and her daughter Lucretia Wagner assisted Albert in this great undertaking. Wagner's book may be unique in that he personally relates the actual concept behind each artistic effort. There is no guesswork as to his visual intentions. Other artist's works often stretch the imagination of art historians. Albert asked Gene and Linda if they would help him complete his book; and he contributed much more as the parameters of the project expanded to include taped conversations of his childhood, his family, his work, and his life's passions.

Albert Wagner's book was his dream come true. Albert painted it, Albert wrote it. The many who contributed to and helped bring his book to completion were his loved ones and intimate friends.