I Sing Because I Am Happy

In acrylic paint on a long plywood panel, Ruby C. Williams (1930-) paints five birds in hues of blue and red landing on a golden perch. Daubs of turquoise and red pepper a purple sky. Blue birds, often considered harbingers of happiness, befit the gospel hymn lyric painted on the perch in black: “I Sing Because I Am Happy.” The line begins the chorus of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” which continues: “I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The song affirms that a God who sees a tiny sparrow also cares about a person who might feel “discouraged” or “lonely,” feelings voiced in its first verse. Joy found in music and the natural world are themes explored by Williams, whose art emerged from making roadside signs to sell her home-grown produce. The Bealsville, Florida artist’s work was featured in the Anacostia Community Museum’s exhibition, On Their Own: Selected Works by Self-Taught African American Artists (2005).