Folklife Tradition Bearer's Twisted Wire Sculptor

At the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum, Mr. Elvin L. Shields Jr. displayed two of his artworks entitled "An 18th Century Slave Loggers Camp and Exodus" depicting the African American experience on Cane River cotton plantations in Natchitoches Parish on Saturday February 26, 2022 a in Monroe LA. He spoke on his experiences as a child of sharecroppers and as a twisted wire toy maker from 1953-1964. He started making toys at the age of 5. He discussed his two books entitled "Plantation Toys and Our Journey, co-authored w/ wife Betty R. Shields" detailing life of African...