My identity as an artist began when I was schooled by my uncle Nolan Chambers on a unique wood carving technique. Nolan was schooled by his older brother Donald, who learned it in prison. My first few pieces were duplicates of my uncles’ work, created from plywood and scrap lumber. I quickly developed my own style and vision. An early inspirational turning point was my first visit to Southern Lumber Company in San Jose, California. I was deeply entranced as I discovered exotic woods from ash to zebra. The smells, colors, textures, grain patterns, and countries of origin ignited my imagination. What if this piece of Ebony wood witnessed the birth of slavery? Maybe this slice of Oak provided shade for the underground railroad. Some mother’s child might have hung from this Southern Pine. I felt certain that these trees had insightful stories to tell. I am forever compelled to translate on their behalf.
To Dream awake
To give More than I take
To carve Truth into everything I create
To abstract – To free Flow
To translate what tree roots Know
To Talk with my hands
To speak Deep like the drum
To make Woodwordz outlive the trees they came from
To speak Bold and fluent wood
So my children’s Children will know where I stood
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