“the freedom of woodworking was
refreshing to Williams even as the craftwork involved still called on the hard
work and attention to detail”
LaVon Van Williams became a wood sculptor by learning to
carve with a chainsaw followed by refinement with a mallet and chisel. “He
adopted the distinct African-inspired carved sculpture tradition of the
Carolina coastal Gullah/Geechee people to find his voice.” (Borei). He is an
urban folk artist drawing his inspiration from jazz and blues. He originally
went to an art school in California where a professor, “insisting black artists
have no future in the art world,” Williams went home and turned his back on the
established art paradigm. (Jeanine Taylor).
LaVon’s older brother Dave had learned carving from their
Uncle Luke who in turn taught his younger brother the craft. Much of his work
depicts people playing jazz instruments or engaging in emotional activities,
Williams states, “You’re looking for a fantastic movement or a fantastic shape that
comes in the piece, and that’s the whole power of the piece. You want it to
explode out when the viewer sees it, or you want it to be calm, but yet you
still want a powerful presence in the piece, so that it dominates or takes off.”
(Black Cultural Center Virtual Museum). This family tradition has born some
emotive wood carvings such as evidenced by LaVon’s Five O’ Clock Jump, which
is a tribute to Count Basie a jazz musician.
LaVon Van Williams Jr (born 1958)
Jeanine Taylor Folk Art
LaVon Van Williams
Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, FL
