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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.