Name/Title
untitled (mule)Entry/Object ID
2018.4.1Description
This untitled sculpture depicts a mule or donkey head carved out of wood and complemented with white plastic eyes. The snout of the creature protrudes forward while the rear end of the piece similarly bulges outward. Jesse Aaron often worked in accordance to the materials, creating abstracted and distorted features on his figures. The mule's mouth turns slightly upward with a circular carving at the ends of the mouth. Rough and cracked, the piece provides the audience with an understanding of Aaron's passion for natural materials, not attempting to manipulate or deceive the wood. The artist punctured the letters "JJA" in a dot pattern, his initials and signature.Artwork Details
Medium
plastic beads, WoodCollection
Southern Vernacular Art CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2018.4Source or Donor
Mr. Josh FeldsteinAcquisition Method
DonationCredit Line
Josh FeldsteinMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Aaron, Jesse J.Role
SculptorDate made
1968 - 1979Dimensions
Height
8 inWidth
6 inDepth
20 inInterpretative Labels
Label
Jesse J. Aaron (1887-1979)
Jesse Aaron grew up in Lake City, Florida, of African and Native American ancestry, and left school in the first grade to help support his family of 13. He eventually went to school to learn how to be a cook, and worked in that capacity forever 40 years. The later half of his life was spent in Gainesville, living in a house he built, with his wife of over 60 years, Lee Anna. He was an avid gardener and owned a nursery for 15 years. Aaron did not start creating his sculpture in 1968, when he awoke at 3 o'clock in the morning with the voice of the Lord saying "Jesse, Carve Wood." He immediately followed God's instructions, and for the last 11 years of his life, made a living selling and exhibiting his works. Aaron received attention for his work as soon as he started exhibiting it in Gainesville. Soon, he was included in the 1982 exhibition, "Black Folk Art in American 1930-1980" at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
March 13, 2018