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Biography - Elton Braithwaite
Elton Braithwaite is a master sculptor, a shaper of wood. His output of more than 1,500 pieces spans a career of 25 years. Examples of his work can be found in galleries throughout the Northeast, in corporate headquarters and in private collections. His work has been the focus of exhibits at the Pan African History Museum, Academic Artist Association, Western New England College, Cambridge College, Smith College, Black Expo Atlanta, Old State House Hartford, CT, the Springfield Science Museum, The Connecticut Office of Cultural Affairs, The Eastern Regional Art Show, The International Festival of the Arts, New Haven, CT, Paradise City Arts Festival, Holyoke Community College, Springfield Science Museum, Starbucks, The Augusta Savage Gallery, and the Northampton Center for the Arts. He is the recipient of the first prize for his sculpture in the 1971 Jamaica Festival Montego Bay, and prizes at the tenth annual Eastern Regional Art Show and an award from The Jamaica School of Art.
A true folk artist, Elton began his work as a youth in his native Linstead, Jamaica. He laughs when he thinks back to his initial experience. "I was fifteen. One day I saw this piece of wood. It was like the wood was trying to say something, like there was a beautiful image trapped just below the surface. I had no tools. So I took a wooden mallet and a screw driver and worked to release the image." It was instantly apparent that both his skill and passion were enormous. His passion for learning led to a journey of discovery. He left Jamaica and traveled to London. From there he sought out carvers in Ghana. After an extended visit he went to Canada and ultimately settled in the United States. In each locale Elton sought out masters, studying carving techniques and absorbing the sacred images of the world's cultures. In every setting he creates studios and shares his passion and his techniques with young and old. Recently, the Jamaican government borrowed a representative sample of his work for displays throughout the world as an introduction to Jamaican Culture.
Elton is a dedicated teacher who believes that this art form is accessible to everyone. In conjunction with showings of his work, he has lectured and conducted master classes at the University of Massachusetts, Smith College, Western New England College and Holyoke Community College. Elton enjoys introducing his art form to young people. He has received funding to offer lecture, demonstrations and artist in residency programs in school systems in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, and he was recently named to the Artist's Roster of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Elton has been commissioned by the Job Corps, and the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services to create educational programs designed to teach his techniques while using his art to instill a positive work ethic, patience, concentration and a positive self image. Elton was awarded a grant from the Springfield Cable Endowment which enabled him to produce a documentary series that can be seen regularly on WGBY. Private students from throughout western Massachusetts also travel to his studio: "Species of Earth" for ongoing study.
Today he works in his studio in Granby, MA, surrounded by his creations. He is at work on life size figures, masks, reliefs, along with smaller figures. His imagination draws on sacred and cultural images from Asia, the south Pacific, Africa, Europe, Arawak Indian Culture, and his native Caribbean. At times the work is literal, at others, beguilingly abstract. Elton says, "In each work the spirit within the tree guides me. Listen carefully. The wood reveals the image and the style of presentation."
Check out the works of this great Jamaican at:
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