Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Webster, Fred |
Notes |
Fred Webster was born in 1911 in Fayette County, Alabama, where he spent his entire life. A high school principal by career, Webster turned to art as a hobby after his retirement. He suffered from a severe loss of hearing, making socializing difficult, so he looked to stay busy with his hands. He explored painting and ceramics, but it was in 1976 that he discovered wood carving, his true calling. At first he would carve single figures, such as chickens, horses, and people from wood he would find outdoors, such as cedar. However, after a number of years, he began buying straight-grained basswood, allowing him to carve more complex groupings of figures. His favorite motifs were primarily Biblical in nature: Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, as well as groups of angels and devils. He also made groupings of figures engaged in snake handling, a common religious practice in his area. In 1996, due to a decline in health and a loss in sight, he stopped carving. He passed away in 1998. |
Nationality |
American |
Occupation |
School administrator and wood carver |
