Emmett Wigglesworth facts for kids
Emmett Wigglesworth is an amazing artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is known for many things: painting big murals, creating sculptures, designing fabrics, writing poetry, and being a civil rights activist. Since 1958, he has lived in New York.
Emmett Wigglesworth is famous for his bright and colorful murals. He says these artworks are inspired by his own background and what he has learned throughout his life. His art often shows abstract shapes and ideas, making you think and feel.
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Early Life and Education
Emmett Wigglesworth went to the College of Art and Design in Philadelphia to study art. After his studies, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the military and was honorably discharged, meaning he left with a good record, in 1957.
A Career in Art and Design
Emmett Wigglesworth has had a very busy and creative career! He has worked as a designer and illustrator for many well-known publishing companies. These include McGraw-Hill, Harper & Roe, Macmillan Press, and American Books. He even drew pictures for Sesame Street Magazine, which many kids know and love!
Besides creating art, Wigglesworth also taught art to young people. He shared his skills at places like the New Muse in Brooklyn, the J.O.I.N. Center, the Children's Art Carnival, and the Harlem Parents Association in Manhattan. He also designed the covers for two books of poetry called the Journal of Black Poetry.
In 1968, he used his design talents to create the look of the Bedford Stuyvesant Theater in Brooklyn, both inside and out. He also designed costumes and stage sets for plays at the Black Spectrum Theater in Queens, New York.
Exhibitions and Murals
In February 2010, Emmett Wigglesworth helped organize a special art show. It featured more than 40 murals! His goal was to make it easier for everyone to see artworks created by Black artists. The exhibition was held at a nonprofit center on Chapel Street.
His art has been shown in many places, including Ghana and all over the United States. He has been asked to paint murals for many different locations. These include private homes, schools like P.S. 181 in Brooklyn, and public places like Kings County Hospital. He also created 11 murals for the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation and the Urban Resource Institute (ARTC-URI).
Today, Wigglesworth is an Artist-in-Residency at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL). This means he works there as an artist and shares his knowledge. He is also a member of several art groups, like the National Conference of Artists and the Fulton Art Fair Artists.
Working for Civil Rights
Emmett Wigglesworth was also an important part of the Civil Rights Movement, which worked for equal rights for all people. In 1959, he joined in these efforts. In the early 1960s, he taught art at the CORE Freedom School in Selma, Alabama. This was a special school set up to help people learn and fight for their rights. While there, he also wrote and directed two plays for the CORE Freedom Theater in San Francisco.
Art and Community Groups
Emmett Wigglesworth is a member of several important art and community groups. These include:
- The National Conference of Artists
- Weusi Artist, Collective in New York City
- Association of Caribbean and American Artists
- AAA Artists and Cross Sections
- The Fulton Art Fair Artists
