For more than 25 years, master wood turner Avelino Samuel has created fine art from wood. Adding to the unique value of each of his signed and numbered pieces is the fact that they are made from woods found in the Virgin Islands — mahogany, seagrape, lignum vitae, kasha, white prickle, amarod, genip and black olive, to name a few. Avelino blends elements of Virgin Islands/Caribbean decorative art and style with his love for classical and modern turnings.

From a young age, Avelino loved creating beauty with his hands and aspired to be an Industrial Arts teacher. He received his BS degree in Industrial Arts from North Carolina A&T State University and his Master’s degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University. He returned to his native St. John, where he has taught Industrial Arts at the Julius E. Sprauve School for more than 20 years.

Over time, Avelino Samuel has refined his skills through his constant pursuit of knowledge about his art. He is a member of the American Association of Woodturners, and in 2000 he was awarded a grant to attend their Annual Symposium. Samuel also holds membership in the American Craft Council and the Artist Association of St. John.

Winner of first-place awards at Tillet Fair and St. John Fourth of July Fair, Avelino also participated in the Smithsonian Institution’s Festival of American Folklife re-staging on St. Croix in 1991. He took part, as well, in the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute’s 1996 Folklife Festival held at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas.

In the 1990’s, Samuel added furniture making to his repertory, exploring traditional and modern forms in his production of four-poster beds. His furniture gained quick popularity, but he found that he preferred to focus his artistic talent on beautifully turned and polished vessels that make a refined statement in any home. These works reflect his passion and love for the art of woodturning.

INVENTORY to come