Members of the Virgin Islands arts community are remembering the life of St. John master craftsman Avelino Samuel, who died June 7 at the age of 68. Samuel is one of two Virgin Islanders to have his work featured in exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. was among those paying tribute to a humble and dedicated artisan and educator who began his career as an Industrial Arts teacher at the Julius E. Sprauve School in Cruz Bay. After 30 years of teaching day classes and nighttime wood shop for community members, Samuel traveled the world conducting workshops.
“Avelino was more than an artist. He was a teacher, a mentor, and a quiet force for good whose work touched lives across the Virgin Islands and beyond. His talent for woodturning was matched only by his humility and his deep love for our culture and our people,” Bryan said. “From the classrooms of Julius E. Sprauve School to exhibitions around the world, Avelino carried the spirit of St. John with him. He taught us that beauty can come from simple things, and that craftsmanship, care, and community go hand in hand.”
Born in Coral Bay in 1956, to Willis and Doris Samuel, Avelino was one of their 10 children. Raised in a life of simplicity, he learned his craft by fashioning tools, toys and household objects at a time when mass-produced consumer goods on St. John were scarce. Samuel also enjoyed life along the shore as a free-diving fisherman, and could be seen along the shores of Hansen Bay scaling his catch from a bucket while seated under a sea grape tree.
As his craft evolved, Samuel added furniture making to his offerings. Many of those pieces — including a four-poster mahogany bed — became collectors’ items. Native woods — genip, mahogany, raintree, and white prickly — were the materials he worked with.
His frequent visits to symposia held by the American Association of Woodturners introduced him to some of the nation’s best lathe turners and woodworkers. Those associations also gave Samuel opportunities to share new works with audiences abroad. Some of his works were featured in a 2016 exhibition at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture, alongside fellow Caribbean woodturner John Mascoll of Barbados. Years of dedication through teaching, spending time in the workshop, and forming friendships in the artisan community led to his pieces being featured in some of the world’s finest private and public collections, including at the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery.
Many of Samuel’s later pieces belonged to a distinctive style of ornate hand-turned hollow vessels, for which he became increasingly known. “Avelino Samuel was an artist of extraordinary talent — his work transcended place and time, leaving a lasting impact both within our community and across the globe,” said St. John gallery owners Priscilla Hintz Rivera and David Knight Jr.
“For decades, he was an integral part of the Bajo el Sol Gallery family. As curators, he was a dream to work with — thoughtful, visionary, and deeply committed to his craft. It was a true honor to collaborate with him and to help share his remarkable artistry with the world.”
Family and friends say they will soon announce the time and place of a memorial service. Sisters Cicely and Karen Samuel posted a statement on their social media pages shortly after their brother’s passing:
We are deeply saddened to share that Avelino Samuel, devoted father, beloved brother, loving uncle, esteemed educator, and renowned wood-turning artist, passed away on June 7th … His mastery of native woods and hand-turned vessels showcased his artistry and vision, leaving a lasting imprint on all who admired his work. His legacy will continue to live on in the beauty he created and the lives he touched,” the sisters said.
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