Vernon Edwards

Vernon Edwards was one of the few remaining practitioners of traditional African American cane carving in the Savannah coastal region. Edwards was initially exposed to woodworking through his father, a carpenter and craftsman from Savannah. As a young man, living in Clevelandm Ohio, Edwards came to know an elderly African American carver from Louisiana who carved reptilian canes. The late Ulysses Davis was also a great source of inspiration for Edwards, who frequently visited the elder carver's barbershop. Edwards carved sporadically for a large part of his adult life, but did not pursue his craft seriously until the early 1980's. By that time, he had developed his signature works, realistically carved walking sticks resembling snakes, particularly rattlesnakes. Edwards has also carved walking sticks with human figures, hands, and other motifs as well as small freestanding and relief sculptures of important individuals in black history, inspired to some degree by the work of Ulysses Davis. He also carved alligators, which feature prominantly in traditional African American woodcarving. Edwards has produced perhaps the largest single piece of carved folk art executed in Savannah, a seven foot long rattlesnake carved from cherry. The artist works in a variety of woods, including oak, mahogany, and "monkey vine" -- which Edwards gathered from a wooded area near his home. Two of Edwards' snake canes are represented in the Acacia Collection of African American.