Ruby Williams

Ruby C. Williams is a folk artist and produce vendor in Florida, United States.[1]

She was born and grew up in Bealsville, Florida[2] - a community formed by freed slaves in 1865. She then became a minister in New Jersey.[3] Since returning to Florida she has run a produce stand and "walk in" gallery on State Road 60 since the early 1980s.[2]

Williams is a self-taught artist.[3] Her career in folk art got going in 1991 when passer-by Rodney Hardee noticed her brightly painted signs[2] advertising her fruits and vegetables. With the coaxing from him and others, Ruby, a spiritual businesswoman, minister and grandmother embarked on the journey that has led her into classrooms, galleries and museums in Florida, as well as nationally. Recently Ruby illustrated a children's book titled, I Am Ruby. Her art and produce stand are covered by Jeff Klinkenberg in a section of his book Seasons of Florida.

Ruby Williams was honored with the 2005 Florida Folk Heritage Award[4] and was included in the show, "On Their Own - Selected Self-taught Artists" at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington D.C.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "RUBY C. WILLIAMS". alumnus.caltech.edu. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Phil Attinger "Folk Artist Ruby Williams Imparts Life Lessons to Students", The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), 20 November 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 Amber Jurgensen "Plant City celebrates artist Ruby Williams", Plant City Observer, 13 September 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Ruby C. Williams ( - )". Florida Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "Anacostia Museum Opens Three Exhibitions Celebrating the Work of Self-taught African-American Artists" (PDF). Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture. 20 April 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
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