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Orlando, FL 32803
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William Edmondson (b. America, 1882?-1951), Little Woman, n.d., limestone, 15 x 7 x 6 inches

A native of Nashville and the son of former slaves, William Edmondson was the first African-American artist to be featured in a solo show at New York's Museum of Modern Art (1937). He grew up in Nashville and started working at the age of 16. He performed menial jobs for almost 25 years, working as a manual laborer, fireman, railroad man and hospital janitor. He never leanred to read or write, and he never married. Following his retirement, he sold vegetables that he gew in his backyard.

Edmondson's first works were memorial gravestones; later he created animal, human and celestial figures. His carvings were inspired by his faith, community and culture. He received a vision from God, who told him to start sculpting: "I was out in the driveway with some old pieces of stone when I heard a voice telling me to pick up my tools and start to work on a tombstone. I looked up in the sky and right there in the noon daylight He hung a tombstone out for me to make." He sold his sculptures along with his vegetables and provided tombstones for members of Nashville's African-American community.

His art was recognized by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, who was a photographer working for Harper's Bazaar magazine. She brought his sculptures to the attention of Alfred Barr, the director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Edmondson was accorded a one-man show at the MoMA in 1937. His career lasted for about 15 years. During some of this time, he worked under the Works Progress Adminisration, creating carvings of his choice.

Using a minimal amount of detail, Edmondson emodies a sense of strength and determination in this sculpture. The Little Woman had real character and style.

Sandy Hostetter,
President

David Cross,
Vice President

Kimberlee Strong,
Secretary

Jim Southall Jr.,
Treasurer

Anthony Grey

Susan Gall

Joyce Ann Appelquist

Andrea Coudriet-Batchelor

Robert Bourne

Helen Donegan

Anthony Grey

Glenda E. Hood*

Mary C. Kenny

Vanessa Ketcham

Paul Lartonoix

Bob Le Blanc

Genean McKinnon

Michael A. Mennello

Clarence Otis

Sylvia Overby

Linda Pellegrini

John Rigsby

Joy Sabol

John Schell

Nancy Schwalb

Ross Silverbach

Kimberlee Strong

Robin Swann

*Ex-officio member

Kimberlee Strong,
Gala Chairperson

Joyce Ann Appelquist

Brea Barnes

Andrea Coudriet-Batchelor

Jacqueline Bradley

Helen Donegan

Gerry Garcia

Joyce Green

Anne Grey

Frank Holt

Sandy Hostetter

Mary Kenny

Vanessa Ketchum

Ann Lopez

Genean McKinnon

Michael A. Mennello

Ksenia Merck

Linda Pellegrini

Lawrie Platt Hall

Anne Peoples

Kim Robinson

Nancy Port Schwalb

Deborah Sciarrino

Kimberlee Strong

Robin Swann

Jae Nale,
Chairman

John Mansilla,
Vice Chairman

Jeffrey Gitto

Tessa Hahn

Michael Kulich

Michael Mennello

Kyle Simon

Gordon Spears

Alexandra Steele

Lynda Wilson

Andre Young